Moormann's THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS, 1847
Moormann, John J[ennings]. THE VIRGINIA SPRINGS. WITH THEIR ANALYSIS; AND SOME REMARKS ON THEIR CHARACTER, TOGETHER WITH A DIRECTORY FOR THE USE OF THE WHITE SULPHUR WATER, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISEASES TO WHICH IT IS APPLICABLE: To which is Added, a Review of a Portion of Wm. Burke's Book on the Mineral Springs of Western Virginia, etc., and an Account of the Different Routes to the Springs. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1847. 12mo (signed in sixes) [16.5 cm]. xii, [17]-219 pages, plus [1] page errata. Complete with two folding maps: "Map of the Routes & Distances to the Virginia Springs" (approx. 28 x 39 cm) and "White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. J. Calwell Proprietor. 1847" (approx. 19 x 24 cm). Contemporary (perhaps original) half calf over marbled boards with gilt-lettered black leather spine label, raised bands, and gilt rules on spine. Good plus. Front hinge professionally repaired with Japanese tissue. Light wear and a few small scuffs to leather. Leaves just a trifle toned, but generally clean. Small adhesive remnant to margin of one leaf, in no way affecting text. First folding map has a professional tissue repair along the length of one vertical fold with loss of several letters of text (the "ewi" in Lewisburg and the "h" in Salt Sulphur.) It is also a little tanned, and shows several short, clean marginal tears and chipping along one edge with slightest impact on ruled border only. The second map is slightly tanned, has several short tears with minor loss, not affecting lettering, and has chipping along one edge, not affecting printed matter.
FIRST EDITION. The author describes himself as the resident physician at White Sulphur Springs. He provides brief descriptions of this and various others springs in western Virginia, with some comments on the history of their use and ownership. Much of the work is devoted to the medical uses of mineral waters and analyses of the chemical composition of the various springs. The first map and the final chapter of the text provide information on reaching the springs by road, canal boat, and railroad. The second map includes a plan of the small resort at White Sulphur Springs, then under the ownership of the Calwell family of Baltimore. This property eventually became the acclaimed resort, The Greenbriar.
This was the first book-length publication by John Jennings Moormann (1802-1885), a native of Bedford County, Virginia. Numerous editions followed. He later published "The Mineral Waters of the United States and Canada" (1867).
Sabin 50469. Haynes 12568.
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