THE HISTORY OF TOBACCO….WRITTEN IN 1731

history-of-tobacco-begin673.jpg“It’s Name is acquir’d from the Island Tobago….”
IS IT GOOD OR BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH?

The Gentleman’s Magazine
London
September, 1731

Here is a very early and unique account of the history and uses of tobacco–I’ve already read it three times!  In part, “THIS Plant of American growth and call’d by the Indians Petun, or Petum.They apply it to two Uses. First, upon any great Weariness, they make themselves dizzy and drowsy with the Fume of it taken in at their Mouths, upon which they go to sleep, and rise wonderfully refresh’d. The other Use they make of it, is to intoxicate themselves with the Smoak of it when they prophecy; this they do by throwing the Leaves into a Fire, and then sucking up the Smoak thro’ a Cane.” The article goes on to opine, “The best way to distinguish whether Smoaking be for the Health, is to consider the Constitution, whether Phlegmatick, and subject to raw waterish Houmours, then it may be beneficial; but in lean and hectick Constitutions it is pernicious.”

This issue also contains “breaking news” that two Spanish Galleons sank in a terrible hurricane.  Research has shown there was a big storm in Barbados that year. The galleons were likely filled with gold, jewels and other valuable commodities.

Forty-two pages in very fine, clean condition.  This was only the ninth issue of the world’s first magazine.

$495

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Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under European History, All Historic Newspapers