Details
GESNER, Conrad. Historiae animalium lib. I [-III]. De quadrupedibus viviparis [and] De quadrupedibus oviparis [and] De avium natura. Zürich: C. Froschouer, 1551, 1554, 1555. 3 parts (of 5) in 2 vols, 2° (390 x 242mm). Woodcut illustrations throughout, many after Lukas Schan, woodcut in the colophon of vol. 1 showing the Garden of Eden. (Part I: lacking M2, title detached and worn with creased tears mostly in the blank margins, colophon with a repaired chip with some loss; Part II: lacking the title; Part III: lacking Bb5 and final leaf Tt6; both vols with marginal dampstains, occasional soiling, some tears of which one repaired, a few worm holes in vol. 1.) Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin, spines lettered in manuscript (lacking ties, chips at edges and corners, extremities rubbed, sides of vol. 1 dampstained). Provenance: 'Graf ?Sesua' (stamps; case labels).
FIRST EDITIONS. The first three parts, comprising mammals, amphibians and birds, of Gesner's comprehensive survey of the natural world, illustrated by some of the earliest and most influential zoological woodcuts to be published. Gesner was 'not only the best naturalist among the scholars of his day, but of all men of that century, the pattern man of letters' (Wood). Nissen ZBI 1549, 1550, 1551; PMM 77; Wellisch A23.1, A24.1, A25.1; Wood, p.356. Sold with all faults. (2)
FIRST EDITIONS. The first three parts, comprising mammals, amphibians and birds, of Gesner's comprehensive survey of the natural world, illustrated by some of the earliest and most influential zoological woodcuts to be published. Gesner was 'not only the best naturalist among the scholars of his day, but of all men of that century, the pattern man of letters' (Wood). Nissen ZBI 1549, 1550, 1551; PMM 77; Wellisch A23.1, A24.1, A25.1; Wood, p.356. Sold with all faults. (2)