Sloane, Sir Hans (1660-1753).

Estimate

5,000 - 7,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica, with the Natural History of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those islands... with some relations concerning the neighbouring continent, and Islands of America. London: (vol.1: by B[enjamin] M[otte]) for the Author, 1707-1725

2 volumes, folio (346 x 220mm.), [16], cliv, 264, [2 (errata on recto, verso blank)]; [4], xviii, [2 (blank)], 499, [1 (blank)]pp., titles printed in red and black, illustration: woodcut music in text (one and a half pages), large folding sheet with engraved map of Jamaica and charts of the Western Ocean and 'Caribee Islands', and 282 (of 285) fine double-page or folding plates mostly by Michael Vander Gucht or John Savage (154+3 (numbered 1-156 and II-IIII) and 118+7 (157-274 and V-XI)), mounted on guards, binding: near uniform contemporary panelled calf, spines in seven compartments with raised bands gilt, lacking 3 plates (nos. 38, 79 and I), a few plates slightly shaved (36, 60 and 61 with loss of caption or number), a few folding plates shaved along folds by the binder, short tear to plate 78, small hole to plates 100 and 181, plates 180-184 and 186 partly torn along fold (tightly mounted on guards), 185 lightly browned, vol.1 spine slightly worn and lacking lettering piece, binding rubbed, vol.2 spine ends chipped, binding slightly rubbed

Literature

Nissen BBI 1854; Hunt 417; Stafleu TL2 12.104; Sabin 82169

Catalogue Note

first edition. sir hans sloanes' most important published work, containing the first illustrations of the flora and fauna of jamaica and neighbouring islands.

Sloane went to the West Indies in 1687, staying for 15 months as physician to the Duke of Albemarle, the Governor of Jamaica, until the duke's death in 1688. During this time, Sloane gathered around 800 new species of plants. Sloane also came across chocolate which was drunk by the natives, but he found it "nauseous", so he mixed it with milk and sugar to make it more palatable. When Sloane returned to England he used his new chocolate recipe for medicinal purposes; subsequently Sloane's recipe for milk chocolate was taken up by Cadbury's and manufactured as confectionery.