Incunable "Mainz" Herbal - 1485 "Gart der Gesundheit" -Schönsperger - Mandrake / Elephant with contemporary hand colouring

Incunable "Mainz" Herbal - "Gart der Gesundheit"

-1485 Incunable

-Printed in Augsburg by Johann Schönsperger 

The book was first published as one of the famous Mainz herbals in 1485 by Peter Schöffer. Schönsperger likely pirated Schöffers first edition of the book, which had come out a few months before.

-Incomplete and Poor condition overall

-297 of 370 leaves only with c335 contemporary coloured woodcuts.

-Lacking all until D2 and from V to the end. Contains pages: 25-26, 29-51, 53-102 (86 double-page numbered), 104-110, 112, 115-118, 120-121, 123-132 (124 double-page numbered), 134-140, 142-143, 145-208, 210-319, 322-333.

-Wear to pages and some tears. Old water damage and mildew to many margins and pages. Some pages loose.

-Modern binding  to style with wooden boards and repurposed leather spine.

Of note, the book includes male and female mandrakes coloured by a contemporary hand. The woodcuts are amongst the earliest images of mandrakes in printed form. Also includes images of Elephant, Deer, a Fox and a Rabbit (the Beaver is lacking).

Mandrakes - plants with roots resembling human forms - were known to have special powers from ancient times. Some authors described the root as an aphrodisiac and a cure for sterility, while others recommended it to be given before surgery.

Josephus recommended the only safe way of harvesting the powerful root was by tying it to a dog to pull it up(!) - and it was said to give off a loud scream when uprooted. In mediaeval times it was a key ingredient in witches brews, while the human-like root could also be stored as a powerful charm.

It’s now known that the mandrake root contains tropane alkaloids which have a strong antimuscarinic affect - dilating pupils, slowing the digestive system, speeding the heart, and causing sedation or confusion at high doses.

Although the "Gart der Gesundheit" is principally a herbal, animals with medical uses are also described in the book. These include deer, which were valued for their musk, and foxes, whose tongues were said to cure mouth ulcers!

It is one of the earliest printed images of an elephant, although it was likely copied from previous European depictions, rather than drawn from life.

The text below the contemporary coloured woodcut describes “Spodium”, which was a medicine unfortunately made from ground elephant tusks that was said to be useful for nosebleeds, as well as other ailments.

Despite the condition, this is an important and rare early Herbal with contemporary coloured woodcuts of Mandrakes and an elephant.