Observations Historical, Critical and Medical On The Wines Of The Ancients. And the Analogy between them and Modern Wines. With General Observations on the Principles and Qualities of Water, and in Particular on Those of Bath [The City of Bath in Somerset]. Indagatio ipsa rerum tum maximarum tum etiam occultissimarum habet oblectationem. Si vero aliquid occuret quod verisimile videatur, humanissimacompletur animus volupate. CIC. in Lucullo. By Sir Edward Barry, Bart. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and of the Royal Society.. This item is unavailable.Observations Historical, Critical and Medical On The Wines Of The Ancients. And the Analogy between them and Modern Wines. With General Observations on the Principles and Qualities of Water, and in Particular on Those of Bath [The City of Bath in Somerset]. Indagatio ipsa rerum tum maximarum tum etiam occultissimarum habet oblectationem. Si vero aliquid occuret quod verisimile videatur, humanissimacompletur animus volupate. CIC. in Lucullo. By Sir Edward Barry, Bart. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and of the Royal Society.

First and only Edition. Quarto (22.5 cm wide x 27 cm high). Pagination: Frontispice Engraving and Title Vignette by eminent english engraver, Isaac Taylor (1730-1807), XII, 479 pages, including an Appendix which is included in the pagination but focuses on an entirey of 58 pages on "Modern Wines" and their behaviours after being imported etc. Includes the Errata leaf to the rear. Original full calf with gilt lettering on spine. Front board cleanly detached. Bookblock in excellent, very clean condition and unusually wide margined for an 18th century Quarto. Provenance: This very rare publication by Cork City - born physician and MP, Sir Edward Barry, is known to be a pioneering study "in the scientific [and medical] analysis of wine, [it was] an influential work on the history of wine which 'combined a good knowledge of classical literature, chemistry and worldly wisdom' (Ó Raifeartaigh, 2)" (DIB). Provenance: The book has a fascinating history of provenance and belonged to two important libraries, manifested by two armorial bookplates, preserved on the pastedown and the endpaper. Provenance I: Charles Robert Scott-Murray (1818-1882) of Danesfield House in Medmenham, near Marlow, Buckinghamshire / Provenance II: The book was held until recently in one of the world's most important collections on Wine and Oenology: The Library of Dr. Friedrich von Bassermann-Jordan (Bookplate present). The price of this book includes a repair or new binding to the liking of the buyer and also included is the creation of a Solander Box. Includes the following chapters: Chapter I: "Of the general Nature and Principles of Wine" Chapter II: "Of the Wines of the Ancients" Chapter III: "On the Rules observed by the Ancients in making and preserving their genuine Wines and in waht Manner they were adulterated" [In this chapter Barry observes the poisoning of three men who had drunk white wine which had been fined down with Arsenic. Barry observes how two of the men died and Barry describes in detail the condition of the sole survivor and does so in perfect analytical mode by mentioning his death of "A Dropsy, owing to a total Dissolution and Acrimony of his humours, from his mineral poison. Mineral poisons of this kind are generally so violent as immediately to shew their effects in the stomach and bowels; and, unless soon discharged and corrected by emetics, lenient purgatives and soft plentiful diluents, excite a fatal inflammation and mortification; but how far in a less quantity they may more slowly affect the Blood and nervous system, can only be determined by future observations".] Chapter V [Printer Error: There is no chapter IV despite the pagination continuing]: "On the Wine Cellars of the Ancients" Chapter VI: "Of the inspissated Wines" Chapter VII: "Of the Principal Wines of the Campania Faelix and other Parts of Italy" Chapter VII [Printer Error: This Chapter has the wrong Numeration but pagination continues correctly]: "Of the Principal Greek and Asiatic Wines" Chapter VIII: "On the previous Preparations of the Wines of the Ancients, by diluting them with hot Water and cooling them in Snow. The Structure and Use of the Thermopolium" ["The Thermopolium [Roman Restaurant] served hot food and mulled spiced wine (calida) from earthenware jars set in the counter" (Source: University of Chicago)] Chapter IX: "Of the Nature and different Qualities of Water" Chapter X: "On the Principles and Qualities of Bath Waters [Bath in Somerset]" [Barry writes here in detail about the "sulphureous and ferugineous qualities of these Waters" and reflects on experiences his teacher Boerhaave made: "Boerhaave is the first who has observed and clearly proved that there is in iron an inherent Principle of a distinct nature fro the other parts of iron"] Chapter XI: "On the convivial Entertainments of the Ancients" Chapter XII: "Of the Evening Suppers of the Greeks and Romans" ["We find that the Greeks and Romans appropriated the succeeding hours, from six in the mo.…