_{The Microcosm:}

A much later book that also stresses the importance of the microcosm is John Gerard's (1545-1612) herbal.

Gerard, John. The Herball Or Generall Historie of Plantes. Gathered by John Gerarde of London Master in Chirvrgerie. Imprinted at London by John Norton, 1597.

The Collections' copy of this fine herbal is very special, for the plants are hand colored using vegetable dyes. Except for its large size, the book could be used as a field guide, so accurately are the plants displayed. When compared with the Hortus sanitatis, approximately 100 years earlier, one can see how the portrayal of plants has changed from the stylized to the realistic. In the early work, it would be impossible to identify the plant in the field.

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