Maison Rustique, or the Covntrey Farme. Compyled in the French Tongue by Charles Stevens and John Liebavlt, Doctors of Physicke. And Translated into English by Richard Surflet, Practitioner in Physicke. Now Newly Revised, Corrected, and Augmented, with Divers Large Additions

London: Printed by Adam Islip for John Bill, 1616. Folio. (11 1/4 x 7 inches). First English edition. [x]4 A-Sss4. [18] 732 [18]. 768 pp. Title, The Contents, Dedication to Lord Robert, Dedication to Sir Peregrine Bartie, Surflet to the Courteous Reader, Seed Table, Books I-VII, Table of the Matters, Table of New Additions. Woodcut printer's ornaments, head and tail-pieces, historiated initials, and numerous illustrations in text and full-page. Modern sprinkled calf ruled in blind and decoratively blind-stamped, with five raised bands forming six compartments on spine and gilt-lettered black morocco lettering-piece in second compartment with gilt date at foot, bookplate on front pastedown

First edition of Markham's revised English translation of Estienne and Liebault's important late-sixteenth century work on animal husbandry, gardening, and country living.

Markham, the most prolific English writer on agriculture and farming in the first half of the seventeenth century, adapts herein a work by Charles Estienne (Charles Stevens). "It was first published in Latin as the Praedium Rusticum in 1554. Estienne himself translated it into French and Liebault brought it out shortly after Estienne's death in 1564. Surflet's first English translation appeared in 1600." [Hunt] This first Markham edition, based on the Surflet translation, is noted for its additions, as well as its rarity. Fussell refers to this adapation of Estienne's work as being among Markham's most important works on farming. The text on the verso of the title, under the caption "The Contents," gives an accurate description of the work: "There is contained in this last Edition, whatsoever can be required for the building, or good ordering, of a Husbandmans House, or Countrey Farme; as namely, to foresee the changes and alterations of Times; to know the motions, and powers, of the Sunne and Moone, upon the things about which Husbandry is occupied: as to cure the sicke labouring Man; to cure Beasts and flying Fowles of all sorts; to dresse, plant, or make Gardens, as well as for the Kitchin, and Physicke use, as also in Quarters." The description continues on to touch a variety of subjects, including the planting and care of trees, the keeping of bees, the making of wine and beer, and the distilling of liquor, as well as hunting and hawking. The illustrations include several full-page woodcut plans for knot gardens (pp.257-275), a garden labyrinth (p.276), a tobacco plant (p.217), plus large woodcuts of a cow (p.99) and horse (p.138) with references to various ailments, among several others images. The present example is a complete copy of a scarce book, often found defective.

Arents 123. Bitting, pp.146-147. ESTC S121357. Fussell, p.28. Goldsmiths 451. Hunt 202. Kress 353. McDonald, p.90. Poynter 31.1. STC 10549.