MOFFET, Thomas. Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum: olim ab Edoardo Wottono, Conrado Gesnero, Thomaque Pennio inchoatum, edited by Sir Théodore Turquet de Mayerne, London: Thomas Cotes for Benjamin Allen, 1634, 2°, FIRST EDITION, ASSOCIATION COPY from the library of John Evelyn, title with woodcut of a beehive surrounded by various insects, over 500 woodcuts within text and on 4 pages without text at end (without the portrait called for by Nissen, title slightly soiled, marginal tear to A2, stain affecting 4 lines on H4r, T1 slightly soiled, spotting to X1, worm trace from 2A5-2D1 causing slight loss to 4 lines of text at bottom of page), contemporary mottled calf (rebacked preserving old spine), gilt panelled covers with "JE" monogram at corners, spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettering-piece in one compartment, the rest with "JE" monogram within laurel and bay leaves, 19th-century family armorial added within central panel of covers, bookplates of Sir Frederick Evelyn Bart. and the later John Evelyn. [GM 288; Krivatsy 8013; Nissen ZBI 2852; STC 17993]

Details

MOFFET, Thomas. Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum: olim ab Edoardo Wottono, Conrado Gesnero, Thomaque Pennio inchoatum, edited by Sir Théodore Turquet de Mayerne, London: Thomas Cotes for Benjamin Allen, 1634, 2°, FIRST EDITION, ASSOCIATION COPY from the library of John Evelyn, title with woodcut of a beehive surrounded by various insects, over 500 woodcuts within text and on 4 pages without text at end (without the portrait called for by Nissen, title slightly soiled, marginal tear to A2, stain affecting 4 lines on H4r, T1 slightly soiled, spotting to X1, worm trace from 2A5-2D1 causing slight loss to 4 lines of text at bottom of page), contemporary mottled calf (rebacked preserving old spine), gilt panelled covers with "JE" monogram at corners, spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettering-piece in one compartment, the rest with "JE" monogram within laurel and bay leaves, 19th-century family armorial added within central panel of covers, bookplates of Sir Frederick Evelyn Bart. and the later John Evelyn. [GM 288; Krivatsy 8013; Nissen ZBI 2852; STC 17993]

Lot Essay

Thomas Moffet's work was based on an unpublished manuscript by Conrad Gesner, but he was unable to find a publisher for the work before his death in 1604, and it was eventually de Mayerne who brought out the book in 1634. The copy cited by Nissen includes a portrait which is not usually present.

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