“I WILL NOT DENY, BUT THAT WE HAVE GOOD HUSBANDS, WHO DUNG AND MARLE THEIR MEADOWES, AND PASTURE-LAND, AND THROW DOWN ALL MOLE AND ANT-HILS”: COLLECTION OF FIVE EARLY PUBLICATIONS ON FARMING AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, 1586-1659

MARKHAM, Gervase. The English Husbandman. London: T.S. for John Browne, 1613. WITH: Cheape and Good Husbandry for the Well-Ordering of all Beasts, and Fowls. London: T.S. for Roger Jackson, 1623. WITH: HERESBACH, Conrad. Foure bookes of husbandrie. London: John Wight, 1586. WITH: HARTLIB, Samuel. The Compleat Huband-man. London: Edward Brewster, 1659. WITH: An Interrogatory Relating More Particularly to the Husbandry and Natural History of Ireland. London: Richard Wodenothe, 1652. Five volumes bound as one. Octavo, period-style full paneled calf gilt, red morocco spine label, raised bands, marbled endpapers.

First and early editions of five late 16th-mid 17th century tracts on animal husbandry, farming, and horse-riding, with woodcut illustrations and initials.

One of England’s most prolific early writers on animal husbandry and sporting pastimes, and champion of “improved methods of horse-breeding and of horse-racing” (DNB), Gervase Markham tailored his works toward educating the landed classes in raising and caring for animals, as well as introducing them to the various “gentlemanly” pursuits and responsibilities. He is credited with importing the first Arabian horse into England. His English Husbandman contains “the knowledge of the true nature of every soil within this kingdom; how to plow it… together with the art of planting, grafting and gardening after our latest and rarest fashion.” In Cheape and Good Husbandry, Markham discusses the breeding and raising of horse, cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals and discusses “the whole art of riding great-horses.” The Four Bookes of Husbandrie, by German Konrad Heresbach, here translated by poet Barnabe Googe, was later edited by Markham in 1614 (thus possibly explaining its presence in this collection, bound just after Markham’s 1613 English Husbandman).

Samuel Hartlib, author of The Compleat Husband and An Interrogatory—which is actually an appendix to the 1652 second edition of Samuel Hartlib His Legacie (“his best-known collection of tracts on agriculture” [DSB])—was one the 17th century’s great polymaths and perhaps its most important scientific correspondent. In addition to encouraging many young scientists, he corresponded with many of the continental scientists of his day and served as an important “source of communication among scientists in the decades before the formation of scientific societies” (DSB). Hartlib’s Legacy with one signature (pages 9-16) bound in twice; text complete. Text in both black letter and roman type. It is notoriously difficult to establish edition for Markham’s works, as he published prolifically but routinely republished works under slightly different names. He began publishing on horses and horsemanship as early as 1593; this is the first edition for English Hubandman and third edition for Cheape and Good Husbandry. Heresbach first published in English in 1577. The Compleat Husband-man is a first edition; the Interrogatory is an appendix to the second edition of Samuel Hartlib His Legacie. Wing 17355, 17336, 13198. STC H980, H990. Occasional early underlining and notations to text.

Repair to title page of Cheape and Good Husbandry, occasional light foxing and very faint dampstaining. Beautifully bound.