An Account of the Principal Lazarettos in Europe; with Various Papers Relative to the Plague: together with further observations on some Foreign Prisons and Hospitals; and additional remarks on the Present State of those in Great Britain and Ireland.
Warrington: Printed by William Eyres & Sold by T. Cadell, J. Johnson, C. Dilly & J. Taylor, 1789. First Edition. Hardcover. Folio. viii + 258pp. + [14pp. Index]. Original full tree calf, lettered & ruled in gilt on spine. Marbled endpapers. 22 engraved plates and plans, all but one of which are folding, plus a large fold-out engraved table at the end of the book. The second of the author's two major works, the other being his "State of the Prisons in England and Wales" (1777). Howard's investigations into hospital conditions began in 1785, and he travelled through Europe - often at great personal risk - researching the hospitals there, the objective being to improve hospital conditions in Great Britain and Ireland in order to prevent the spread of plague. In March 1787 he commenced his fourth and final inspection of the English gaols, incorporating his new observations on penal conditions and reform, into this work whose main focus was hospitals and lazarettos (hospitals or other edifices used to hold people in quarantine). A handsome volume with truly magnificent engravings. A small repair to the head of the spine, leather joints cracked but holding (a little lateral play) slight wear to corners of boards. Top-edge browned, a few short tears to endpaper gutters, part of the imprint at the edge of the engraved table cropped, otherwise internally clean and supple, and pages and plates near Fine. Overall a solid, clean and complete VG or better copy. Item #52002
Price: $650.00