The first English book devoted to air pollution and its solutions
EVELYN, John Fumifugium: or The Inconveniencie of the Aer and Smoak of London Dissipated. Together with some Remedies humbly proposed by J.E. Esq; To His Sacred Majestie, and To the Parliament now Assembled. ~i~W. Godbid for Gabriel Bedel and Thomas Collins.~/i~ 1661.
Small 4to. 19th century half brown calf, marbled boards, gilt lettering to spine; pp [x] + 26; faint dampstaining to edges of first and last few leaves, title page a little soiled, one wormhole to a1-a2, very good. Provenance: bookplate of Henry Davies to front pastedown.
First edition, first issue. This pioneering pamphlet is the first English book on air pollution and a very early example of a work on the environment. It is a work of quite astounding vision in its identification of the problems of industrialisation before 'industrialisation' was even a word. Evelyn had written before of the squalor of London in his satirical A character of England in 1659 but here he returns to the subject with a scientific eye, discussing in detail the effects of air pollution on human health. He provides practical suggestions for improvements including the planting of trees, the establishment of aromatic flower beds throughout the city and the relocation of polluting industries such as brewing and lime-burning. He presented his work to the newly restored king Charles II, who ordered it to be published and a bill to be brought before Parliament. However, the promises of new laws came to nothing, and it was only the Great Fire of 1666 that led to London being rebuilt along Evelyn's proposed lines.
Keynes 23.
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