This book accompanies an exhibition on medical quackery at the Grolier Club in New York City, tracing its prevalence from the itinerant seller of nostrums four centuries ago to unsolicited spam on the Internet today. Prints by William Hogarth, Honoré Daumier and others highlight the theatrics of the quack at work; posters by Jules Chéret, Maxwell Parrish and their contemporaries illustrate the artistry with which proprietary medicines were once advertised; and works by H.G. Wells, Weir Mitchell and other writers offer a delightful look at the elaborate language used to peddle the quack’s wares.

William H. Helfand is the author of five books including Pharmacy: An Illustrated History (Abrams, 1990), and The Picture of Health, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991).

This book was designed at the Winterhouse Studio, Falls Village, Connecticut, by William Drenttel and Kevin Smith. The typefaces used are Vendetta, designed by John Downer and Ziggurat, designed by Jonathan Hoefler.

A Winterhouse Edition.
Published by The Grolier Club.