Details
TOPSELL, Edward (1572-1625). The History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents ... collected out of the writings of Conradus Gesner and other authors ... whereunto is now added The Theater of Insects ... by T. Muffet, edited by J[ohn]. R[owland]. London: E. Cotes for G. Sawbridge, T. Williams, and T. Johnson, 1658.
3 parts in one volume, 2° (325 x 217mm). Half title and 3 part-titles with woodcut vignettes. Numerous woodcut illustrations, some full-page. Woodcut headpieces and initials. (Variable light spotting and offsetting, occasional paper flaws or small holes affecting text, some light marginal worming.) Early 20th-century blind-panelled brown morocco retaining early endpapers, spine gilt, gilt edges (extremities lightly rubbed, skilful repairs to early endleaves). Provenance: early manuscript price on retained endpaper -- Charles J. Sawyer, London (bookseller's ticket).
FIRST COMPLETE EDITION, comprising the second editions of The History of Four-footed Beasts and The History of Serpents, and the first English edition of The Theater of Insects. Topsell published his two English translations from Gesner's Historiae animalium as The History of Four-footed Beasts (1607, see above) and The History of Serpents (1608). His Insectorum theatrum, the third part of this work, was left in manuscript on his death in 1565, and continued by his friend Nicholas Penny, until his own death in 1588, when Thomas Moffet was charged with finishing the work, which he did in 1589. However, it was never published in Moffet's lifetime, and it was only following the purchase of the manuscript from his descendants by Sir Theodore Mayerne, that the Latin original was printed in 1634, to be followed by the English translation in 1658. Lisney 2 and 6 (History of Serpents and Theater of Insects); Nissen ZBI 4147; Wood 599; Wing G-624.
3 parts in one volume, 2° (325 x 217mm). Half title and 3 part-titles with woodcut vignettes. Numerous woodcut illustrations, some full-page. Woodcut headpieces and initials. (Variable light spotting and offsetting, occasional paper flaws or small holes affecting text, some light marginal worming.) Early 20th-century blind-panelled brown morocco retaining early endpapers, spine gilt, gilt edges (extremities lightly rubbed, skilful repairs to early endleaves). Provenance: early manuscript price on retained endpaper -- Charles J. Sawyer, London (bookseller's ticket).
FIRST COMPLETE EDITION, comprising the second editions of The History of Four-footed Beasts and The History of Serpents, and the first English edition of The Theater of Insects. Topsell published his two English translations from Gesner's Historiae animalium as The History of Four-footed Beasts (1607, see above) and The History of Serpents (1608). His Insectorum theatrum, the third part of this work, was left in manuscript on his death in 1565, and continued by his friend Nicholas Penny, until his own death in 1588, when Thomas Moffet was charged with finishing the work, which he did in 1589. However, it was never published in Moffet's lifetime, and it was only following the purchase of the manuscript from his descendants by Sir Theodore Mayerne, that the Latin original was printed in 1634, to be followed by the English translation in 1658. Lisney 2 and 6 (History of Serpents and Theater of Insects); Nissen ZBI 4147; Wood 599; Wing G-624.
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