An Early Treatise on Healthy Living and the Effects of Diet
Castell of helth corrected and in some places augmented. by the first author therof, sir Thomas Elyot knight, the yere of our lorde 1541.
London: in fletestrete in the house of Thomas Berthelet, 1541.
Full Description:
ELYOT, Sir Thomas. The castell of helth corrected and in some places augmented by the first author therof, sir Thomas Elyot knight, the yere of our lorde 1541. [London: in fletestrete in the house of Thomas Berthelet], 1541. [1550?]
Early edition. The 1541 edition was the first to contain Elyot's preface, replacing the dedication to Cromwell. Title within woodcut border. Woodcut border with date of 1534. Historiated initials. Black letter. Small octavo (5 1/8 x 3 3/8 inches; 130 x 87 mm). [7], 73, 68-90 leaves. Bound without final blank, as is common. The is the earliest edition to be found at auction in the past 40 years.
Eighteenth century calf, tooled in blind. Rebacked to style. With calf spine label, lettered in gilt. Spine dated in gilt. All edges speckled brown. Some rubbing to boards and corners. Title-page reinforced with tissue. Minor dampstaining throughout. Leaf E4 with fore-edge margin torn, just touching printed marginal notes. Leaf F4 with loss of outer, lower corner, just affecting catch words. Old ink notations to colophon. Overall very good.
"A popular, sensible treatise on healthful living, with sound and practical advice on the recognition of the commoner symptoms of disease, as well as what to do about them" (Hunt).
"Elyot's Castel of Helth completes the trilogy of his major works. It is an attempt to summarize the teachings of the ancient Greek and Roman physicians, especially Galen, so that English men and women may understand and regulate their health accordingly. It popularized the theory of the four humours and complexions, which became a basic part of the intellectual make-up of Renaissance Britain, and suggested medicines and treatments for a variety of ailments. Probably based on Elyot's studies with Linacre, it differed from Linacre's own writings, for Linacre translated the works of Galen from Greek to Latin, hoping to make them accessible to doctors but not wishing to allow ordinary men and women to diagnose their own complaints. It was Elyot who provided an accessible handbook in the vernacular." (Oxford DNB)
"Sir Thomas could have claimed therefore to be both the originator and chief representative of this genre of publication, the main characteristic of which was the provision of simple rules for a healthy diet and course of life." (Health, Medicine and Mortality in the Sixteenth Century, By Charles Webster)
ESTC S121123. Hunt 155n. Norman Library 705A. STC 7647.
HBS 69558.
$13,500.
Price: $13,500.00
Item #69558