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.