Renaissance Herbals

Timeline

1. 1591–1596Publishing centers across Europe · Holy Roman EmpireFrom the early to mid-1590s, European publishers continued the traditions of earlier herbals by Dodoens, Clusius, and others, issuing folio editions with fine woodcut or copperplate illustrations for physicians, apothecaries, and gardening enthusiasts to identify medicinal plants.
2. 1597–1600London · LondonIn 1597 John Gerard published The Herball in London, systematically introducing native and exotic plants with over 1,800 illustrations and English descriptions, becoming one of the best-selling herbals in England and spreading interest in natural observation and gardening among the urban classes.