Rare Elizabeth Blackwell Watercress Vintage Print from "A Curious Herbal" London 1739

Information

This is a fine, copperplate engraving, Watercress, on hand laid paper with original hand coloring from the first edition of A CURIOUS HERBAL which was drawn, engraved and painted by Elizabeth Blackwell. Published London, 1739, these herbals are from one of the first English botanical series to be issued with hand colored plates.

An herbal is a book of plants which describes their appearance and properties and how they can be used for preparing medicines and ointments. Herbals provided valuable information for apothecaries who made the pills and potions prescribed by physicians.

Elizabeth Blackwell (1700-1758) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. She married her second cousin, Dr. Alexander Blackwell, when she was twenty-eight and the couple moved to London. Alexander opened a print shop without completing the specific amount of apprenticeship training and was imprisoned for two years. An important botanical artist, it is reported that Elizabeth conceived the idea for A CURIOUS HERBAL to obtain the funds to free her husband from debtors’ prison. Sadly, however,

Dr. Blackwell was later executed for his part in a political plot to alter the Swedish royal succession!

The first edition included 500 plates and was an excellent record for its time and its success lay in fulfilling a need for identifying and portraying hundreds of medicinal plants. This is plate # 260, Nasturtium Aquaticum, commonly known as Watercress.

It is a fast growing aquatic, or semi-aquatic plant native from Europe to central Asia and one of the oldest known vegetables consumed by humans.

Size and Condition

Condition is good with very minor spotting. The paper is a creamy white, there is a strong plate mark and the hand coloring is still very beautiful. The approximate size is 10” x 15 ¾”.

Item ID: 0001476