An Account of the Culture and Use of the Mangel Wurzel, or Root of Scarcity. Translated from the French. [Edited by John Coakley Lettsom]
by COMMERELL, -, abbé de
- Used
- Hardcover
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
New York, New York, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
One hand-colored engraved plate. xix, 51 pp. 8vo, attractive antique calf-backed marbled boards (some foxing), spine gilt, red morocco lettering piece on spine. London: C. Dilly & J. Phillips, 1787. "Second edition" (but see below) of this translation of Commerell's work on the mangel wurzel, an uncommon beet developed in the 18th century as a fodder crop for livestock and, when harvested young, an excellent source of nutrition for humans. Commerell (d. 1799), chaplain to the Princess of Lowenstein in the German Lorraine and a member of the Société d'Agriculture de Paris, was interested in husbandry and wrote a monograph in French on the mangel wurzel. Lettsom (1744-1815), physician, philanthropist, and champion of improving projects, was much involved in the introduction of the mangel wurzel in Britain. When seeds of this vegetable were distributed to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, Lettsom received some, sowed them in his garden at Grove Hill, and found them to be an excellent crop capable of providing food for humans and for cattle. He immediately commissioned a translation of Commerell's book - a copy of which had accompanied the seeds from Germany - and provided a preface. This is the second of three editions to appear in 1787. Lettsom distributed seeds to farmers and others in Britain as well as in Europe, America, and the West Indies. Today mangel wurzel is widely grown in many countries. The fine plate depicts the mangel wurzel. Nice copy. The title-page states this is the "second edition," but Lettsom's preface, dated 15 November 1787, is "to the third edition." Our copy collates like ESTC's second edition but has the plate that seems to accompany only the third edition. ❧ Fussell, II, pp. 131-32. Henrey, II, p. 297 & no. 555.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 6455
- Title
- An Account of the Culture and Use of the Mangel Wurzel, or Root of Scarcity. Translated from the French. [Edited by John Coakley Lettsom]
- Author
- COMMERELL, -, abbé de
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Keywords
- botany, gastronomy, nutrition
Terms of Sale
Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc.
5 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 5 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc.
Biblio member since 2009
New York, New York
About Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc.
By appointment
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Marbled boards
- ...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Plate
- Full page illustration or photograph. Plates are printed separately from the text of the book, and bound in at production. I.e.,...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....