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First significant revision since 1721: “by far the best pharmacopoeia ever printed”

[LONDON - PHARMACOPOEIA].
Pharmacopoeia collegii regalis medicorum Londinensis.
London, T. Longman, T. Shewell and J. Nourse, 1746. 4to. With engraved frontispiece, woodcut vignette on title-page. Full calf over boards with double gilt ruling along the edges, ribbed spine with red morocco title label, lettered in gold. (2), XVI, 174 pp.
€ 650
Corrected and augmented edition of the famous pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians at London, first published in 1618, but extensively revised for the folio edition of 1721 by the great physician, naturalist and collector Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) who succeeded Isaac Newton as president of the Royal Society in 1727, and served as president of the College from 1719 to 1735. This was the first Latin edition since 1711 and the first in large format since 1677. Sloane continued to revise the London pharmacopoeia, introducing modern scientific approaches and eliminating ingredients such as mummy dust and unicorn horn that had appeared in the early editions. The present edition is the first in large format since that of 1721 and incorporates all of Sloanes revisions, corrected for the press by William Sharpe. In Amsterdam, Jan Boom reprinted the 1721 edition without revision in 1722 and Isaak Tirion reprinted the present corrected edition soon after it appeared. Many editions followed far into the 19th century.
By degree of the King all the pharmacologists in England were obliged to follow the prescriptions described in this book, which became authoritative in Great Britain as well in great parts of the continent.
A review in the Dutch Boekzaal der geleerde werelt eulogizes Sharps 1746 edition, "which is, in all its simplicity and plainness, considered by far the best pharmacopoeia ever printed".
Binding shows signs of wear, hinges somewhat weakened, water staining to the bottom outer corner of the bookblock. Otherwise in good condition. Boekzaal der geleerde werelt, 32 (1746), p. 586; ESTC T94945.
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Medicine & pharmacy  >  Pharmacology / Pharmacopoeia