Details
DURANTE, CASTORE. Herbario nuovo...con Figure che rappresentano le vive Piante, che nascono in tutta Europa, & nell'Indie Orientali, & Occidentali. Rome: Jacomo Bericchia and Jacomo Tornieri, 1585 [colophon: Bartholomeo Bonfadino & Tito Diani]. Folio, 305 x 213 mm., contemporary limp vellum; some leaves with browning, some minor foxing, few minor marginal stains. FIRST EDITION of this pietistic herbal. Woodcut religious symbol on title, woodcut emblem at end, 2 woodcut portraits, and over 950 woodcuts in text. Hunt 151 (with a variant title imprint); Nissen BBI 569; Pritzel 2552 (same variant title as Hunt); Wellcome I, 1960; NLM/Durling 1342.
The woodcuts are based on Fuchs and Mattioli, although many include charming genre scenes. "This was a popular Italian herbal that was reprinted in Italian, and translated and published in several other languages, for a number of years. The plant descriptions are written in the form of poems which Arber describes as 'pleasingly unscientific.' The Linnean genus Duranta, formerly Castorea, is named after the author" (Hunt).
Provenance: Jesuit College of Rome with early inscription and stamps on title (and printed ex-bibliotheca label on upper pastedown) -- Edward Sandford Burgess, bookplate -- Kenneth K. Mackenzie; Horticultural Society of New York, bookplate.
The woodcuts are based on Fuchs and Mattioli, although many include charming genre scenes. "This was a popular Italian herbal that was reprinted in Italian, and translated and published in several other languages, for a number of years. The plant descriptions are written in the form of poems which Arber describes as 'pleasingly unscientific.' The Linnean genus Duranta, formerly Castorea, is named after the author" (Hunt).
Provenance: Jesuit College of Rome with early inscription and stamps on title (and printed ex-bibliotheca label on upper pastedown) -- Edward Sandford Burgess, bookplate -- Kenneth K. Mackenzie; Horticultural Society of New York, bookplate.