ARBUTHNOT, John

ARBUTHNOT, John. An Essay Concerning the Nature of Aliments, And the Choice of Them, According to the different Constitutions of Human Bodies

London, Printed for J. and R. Tonson, 1756.

£500

8vo, pp. xxxii (title, preface, contents, explanation of chemical terms and introduction), 365 (Essay and Practical Rules, starting at p. 199, with preface and contents – pp. 201-8), ff. 1 (publishers ads). Ink autograph of early owner “Joseph … / Lynn / May 6.th 1775” on recto of left endpaper. Text very clean, fresh and absolutely crips. Bound in contemporary calf with double-fillet gilt tooled along edges, spine in six compartments with low-raised bands. Title in a thick white pen trait to spine. An excellent copy internally, rather worn externally.

John Arbuthnot (1667 – 1735), known as Dr Arbuthnot, was a Scottish physician, satirist and polymath in London. First printed in 1730, the present book of his was quite popular, and a second edition, with advice on diet (here included), came out the next year. There followed four further editions and translations into French and German.

ESTC N9334.