This 17th century herbal belonged to William Morris and contained useful information about the dye properties of various plants. The edition has 18thC Russian gilt binding (gold tooled border on exterior and interior of front and back covers) and a spine with raised blind bands
The book was in Westdean Library from 1813, acquired by William Morris 1890 (?) sold by Jane Morris, Sotheby’s December 1898, purchased by Wilfred Scawen Blunt by whom given Christmas 1906 to Sir Sydney Cockerell. Sold at Cockerell sale Sotheby’s 10 Dec 1956 (lot 115) bought by William Morris Gallery.
A note inside shows that Wilfred Scawen Blunt ‘coloured the figures as I found each plant, mostly at Newbuildings’, the name of his residence in West Sussex.
