Estate / Collection: The Howard Phipps, Jr. Collection, Erchless, Old Westbury

GRIFFITH HUGHES

The Natural History of Barbados. London: Printed for the author, 1750. First edition. Contemporary speckled calf, red leather spine label lettered in gilt. 13 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches; [16], [i]-vii, [1], [1]-250, 251*-254*, 251-314, [20] pp.; with a folding map by Thomas Jefferys, 30 engraved plates after G. D. Ehret by J. Mynde and G. Bickham, and with headpieces, tailpieces, and capitals. Worn, with the front board detached, losses to the spine, infills to leather, later endpapers, the contents with varying degrees of light to moderate spotting and toning, some offsetting from the plates, a repaired tear to the folding map, the signature of "Jn. Newton" to the title, likely the same John Newton who appears on the subscriber's list, sold as is.

The first edition of this early study on the natural history of Barbados, with chapters devoted to the island's climate, its diseases, the different families of plants, their fruits, the crustaceans, and species of fishes. Notably, Hughes' book contains the first use of the term "yellow fever," and the first description of the grapefruit, which he calls the "forbidden fruit." The engraved plates are dedicated to different patrons or subscribers, and so each includes the dedicatee's coat of arms.

Great Flower Books, p. 60; Hunt 536; Nissen BBI 950; Sabin 33582; Wood, p. 393.