Tarragon. Dracunculus hortensis (from A Curious Herbal). by EIGHTEENTH CENTURY hand colored botanical engraving) Blackwell, Elizabeth (illus) - circa 1731- 1739.

circa 1731- 1739.. Hand colored engraving, plate size 12 x 8 inches on sheet 14 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches. A few faint marks to outer margins (outside plate area), pinhole sized spot to upper left image. Very good condition. Plate 116 from Elizabeth Blackwell's "A Curious Herbal" published in London between 1731 and 1739. The image shows the culinary herb tarragon with botanical details. Mrs. Blackwell had taken on the task of producing an up-to-date illustrated text of medicinal plants for the purpose of extricating her husband from debtor's prison. Producing the original watercolors, engraving the plates and then handcoloring the engravings, Blackwell raised the money to regulate her husband's affairs, but to little avail since he became involved in a political plot in Sweden and was beheaded there in 1747. The title was republished in Germany some 20 years later, but the British edition is the first edition, and the only edition with the engraving and coloring done by the artist. The British Library website features illustrations from the copy of this publication that belonged to King George III. .