Moss on a Skull, Gerard's Herbal: The General History of Plants, Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives, HATCH 39&40

Introduction and History

Gerard's Herbal: The History of Plants was originally written by John Gerard and published in 1597. This is the second edition, published in 1633 by Thomas Johnson, who improved the content for everyone to view. The Herbal  was used as a way to communicate the discovery of new plants giving a handcarved  and stamped woodblock image of the plant, its Latin and English name, location and uses.  Some of the plants in these volumes are marked as dangerous and give warnings, as well as preventions to harm and cures.  The book also includes many flowers, mosses, trees, and crops used in cooking.  

John Gerard was a barber-surgeon with a passion for horticulture. He published his first catalogue of a single garden after being issued a list of plants he cultivated in Holborn in 1596.  He was commissioned the opportunity to create the book due to his knowledge of the exotic plants in his lavish garden. [1]

Gerard begins his History of Plants, otherwise known as Gerard's Herbal, with a letter to the “courteous and well willing” readers, stating thanks and giving insight on what the Herbal  is about and what it may contain, as well as where the information came from.  Thomas Johnson, editor of the herbal, reviews the life and death of John Gerard in a beginning letter to the reader of the Herbal. He mentions that Gerard had images paired up with incorrect descriptions, as well as Latin names being misspelled or incorrect. [2] He critiques Gerard’s writing and raised the reputation of the Herbal to what we know and love today with correct names, images, and overall a clean look. Gerard is still given the admiration and recognition of being the author of the book that is used extensively around the world. 

 As time has gone on, new plants have been discovered, some are now extinct, but the most prominent change is the spelling.  The Herbal, as it was composed in the 17^th century, peels back the layers of evolution and takes the reader back to original spellings of the time period.  Along with the given Latin name, over time and trade, the identifications given to these plants may have varied and developed to the names we know today.  Still, this book has been used by botanists and herbalists all around the world since the first copy emerged.