PRADE Jean Royer de Discours du Tabac, ou il est traité Particulièrement du Tabac en Poudre.

Sabin, 2758 ; Arents, 300; Alden & Landis, 668/139 ; NLM, 941.

First edition, rare. 

The historian Royer de Prade, according to his notes in the introduction a pupil of Descartes, has chosen to publish this book under his pseudonym ‘Sieur de Baillard’. In the book he looks into a variety of tobaccos, their plantation and the needed soil as well as the introduction of the species to Europe. 

He follows up with descriptions of the treatment of the leaves, their aromatisation (for example with ginger or cloves), their medicinal use in pills or ointments. The book also includes a chapter on varieties and different forms of smoking pipes. 

Sourcing in works of fellow practitioners de Prade also examines the medicinal values of tobacco, and indicates its toxicity to the lungs but also sees it as a strong stimulant to increase ones imagination. The three illustrations in the text, engraved by F. Fauveau, show varieties of the tobacco plant.

Binding restored. 

From the library of Dr. Villaret (book plate).