[LEMNIUS, Levinus (1505-1568).] An Herbal for the Bible. Translated by Thomas Newton. London: Edmund Bollisant, 1587.

First English edition of Lemnius's popular work on Biblical plants. Most famous for his wildly popular book of secrets (see following lot), Lemnius, a physician and philosopher of Zeeland, was a student of Gesner and Vesalius. He is considered the first author to describe the plants mentioned in the Bible. This English translation was done by Thomas Norton, rector of Little Ilford, and dedicated to the notorious Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex. He notes in the dedication that he has made various additions or omissions to improve clarity where needed. STC 15454; Wellcome 3719.

Octavo (151 x 97mm). (Some headlines just shaved, paper flaw at foot of N1 affecting a few letters, title dustsoiled.) Late 19th-century half calf and marbled boards (rubbed). Provenance: pencil markings and annotations to margins of some pages; a few bibliographic notes on flyleaf – "Henry Holden" (early signature on title) – "John Ward, Moston" (later inscription on flyleaf).