Background:

First published in 1652, Nicholas Culpeper's (1616-1654) Complete Herbal was a very popular guide on the use of herbs in treating illnesses for the general public.   The hand-colored plates shown here accompanied the narrative.  Culpeper is regarded as one of the leading "astrological herbalists" of his time.   Later editions, in which these plates appeared, were revised by another leading English  "astrological herbalist", Ebenezer Sibly.