London: Printed by Adam Islip, Joice Norton and Richard Whitakers, 1636. Folio, *8, ** - ***6, A-B8, C-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Zzz6, 4A-4Z6, 5A-5Z6, 6A-6V6, 6X4, 6Y-6Z6, 7a-7b6 (lacking first and last leaf, blanks), Engraved title, prelims. [xxxvi], text pp. 1-[1632], indices, 23 leaves, engraved title laid down, lower margin cut short occasionally touching a catchword short tears in 7A and 7A2 (index) mended. Profusely illustrated with woodcuts of plants throughout the text. 18th century calf, narrow floral border, fully gilt spine with red mor. title label and in the upper panel a black mor. label gilt with a crest of a boar chained to a tree (Swinton). Indistinct 18th century inscription “Mr John Swinton, younger..... 17??” on dedication leaf and on front pastedown “A present from A. Swinton of Manderston Esqr ..... Jan. 1. 1781”
This is the second edition of Gerarde to be edited by Johnson. It is a reprint of the 1633 edition, with the errata corrected, and in place of the list of errata on the verso of the last leaf there is now “An Advertisement to the Readers” by Johnson, for this edition.
On page 1516 is the famous woodcut of the bananas, a life study by Johnson from the first bananas to be seen in England. These had been given to him on 10th April 1633 by Dr. Argent, President of the College of Physicians of London, who had received them from Bermuda. Johnson’s drawing, which first appeared in his 1633 edition, is the first illustration of bananas to be published in England. Having drawn and described them, he says - “ the stalke with the fruit thereon I hanged up in my shop, where it became ripe about the beginning of May, and lasted until June” . The shop was in Snow Hill, in the City, and it must have been there also that John Payne studied this unknown fruit before incorporating it into his engraved title-page.
STC 11752 Henrey 156 Hunt Cat. 230 Bradley. I, p.283