Early Modern Herbals and the Book Trade: English Stationers and the Commodification of Botany

During the 16th and 17th centuries, England produced over two dozen editions of herbals, which evolved from anonymous octavos to authoritative folio tomes with thousands of woodcuts. These works became valuable commodities in a competitive print marketplace, serving readers across the social spectrum and allowing authors to establish their credibility as botanists. The book argues that the construction of scientific authority in Renaissance England was closely tied to the circumstances governing print.

Format: Hardback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 06 January 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Between 1525 and 1640, a remarkable phenomenon unfolded in the world of print: England witnessed the emergence of over two dozen editions, recognized by their imprints or by contemporaries as herbals. Sarah Neville delves into the intricate journey of this genre, from its humble beginnings as a series of anonymous octavos to authoritative folio tomes adorned with thousands of woodcuts. These curious works swiftly gained value within a competitive print marketplace, catering to readers from diverse social backgrounds. As profitable investments for publishers and platforms for authors to establish their expertise in botany, herbals became invaluable treasures. The book sheds light on the shifting dynamics and regulations surrounding herbals and English printing during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, contending that the construction of scientific authority in Renaissance England was intricately linked to the circumstances governing print. Additionally, this title is also accessible as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316515990
Edition number: New ed