Theatrum Botanicum: The Theater of Plants (John Parkinson)
Background
John Parkinson was a naturalist, and his Theatrum Botanicum (1640) was the largest English herbal then produced, describing 3800 plants. Goates notes that it was a more accurate collection than the one produced by Gerard, but less popular. Interestingly, Parkinson differentiated his book from others of the period by dividing plants into classes based on overarching characteristics rather than any scientifically-supported classification types. A few examples include: Sweet-Smelling Plants, Venemous, Sleepy and Hurtful Plants, and Purging Plants.[1]
A Look Inside
Considering his penchant for single-trait characterization of species, it is perhaps unsurprising that humoural discourse enters Parkinson’s vernacular.
The clearest example of this is the Carduus mollis Cirfium distus, or “The foft Melancholy Thiftle.” As shown in the photographed pages, a long physical description accompanies the pen-and-ink drawing. The melancholy thistle, Parkinson notes, was named to reflect the belief that a concentrate of the substance could heal the ‘madness’ of melancholy of a melancholic humour.[2]
Bibliographical Information
FULL TITLE:
THEATRUM BOTANIVCM: THE THEATER OF PLANTS. OR, AN HERBALL OF LARGE EXTENT: Containing therein a more ample and exct History and declaration of the Physicall Herbs and Plants that are in other Authours, encreased by the accesse of many hundreds of new, rare, and strange Plants from all the parts of the world, with sundry Gummes, and other Physicall materials, than hat beene hitherto published by any before; And a most large demonstration of their Natures and Vertues. Shewing vvithall the many errors, differences, and oversights of sundry Authors that have formerly written of them; and a certaine confidence, or most probable conjecture of the true and genuine Herbes and Plants. Distributed into sundry Classes or Tribes, for the more easie knowledge of the many Herbes of one nature and property, with the chiefe notes of Dr. Lobel, Dr. Bonham, and others inferred therein.
DATE: 1640
PLACE: London
PUBLISHER: Collected by the many years travaile, industry, and experience in this subject, by John Parkinson Apothecary of London, and the Kings' Herbarist. And Published by the Kings Majestyes especiall privilege.
ITEM TYPE: Book
CALL NUMBER: QK41 .P37 1640
NOTE: ESTC records 116 physical copies and 7 digital copies. Additional two copies at Fisher.
TYPE: Roman; Italic
LANGUAGES: English; Latin; Greek
DEDICATIONS: 1. George Berkeley, Knight of the Bath. 2. Democritus Junior to the Reader.
TABLES AND INDEXES: Index (at back); "synopses" throughout.
ILLUSTRATIONS: Ornamented and historiated initials; head and tail pieces. Printer's device, McKerrow #336 (unlisted).
PRINTED MARGINALIA: Heavy.
WATERMARK: Shield(?) Centre.
BINDING:
Late 17th c. speckled dark brown calf over pasteboards has triple fillets in blind (Pearson, EBS, p. 180 #6). Rebacked spine in darker calf has six compartments, five raised bands. Title in compartment 2, author in compartment 4, and date of publication in compartment 6 all tooled in gilt. Speckled edges in red; later pastedowns and flys. Thong supports present on backboard.