Details
GESSNER, CONRAD. Fischbuch. [Bound with:] Thierbuch. [Bound with:] Vögelbuch. Zurich: Christopher Froschauer, 1563; 1563; 1557. 3 works in one volume. Folio, 373 x 241mm, contemporary pigskin over bevelled wooden boards, blindstamped with Reformers heads-in-medallion rolls, 2 (of 4) brass corner pieces, remains of 2 brass fore-edge clasps, green edges, rubbed, light browning, some spotting and staining, sections of a few blank margins renewed, several marginal tears repaired, lacking 4 lvs. at end of Vögelbuch, apparently lacking 2 leaves of prelims. in Thierbuch, but containing 6 (not 5 as in Nissen) in Fischbuch.. FIRST EDITIONS IN GERMAN. Profusely illustrated with woodcuts of fish, birds and other animals. Nissen VBI 1555, 1552, VBI 350.
A COMPLETE SET OF THE FIRST GERMAN EDITIONS OF GESSNER'S MONUMENTAL HISTORIA ANIMALIUM, WHICH WAS "THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE ZOOLOGICAL BOOK BETWEEN ARISTOTLE AND THE PUBLICATION OF RAY'S CLASSIFICATION OF FAUNA IN 1693. ... IT REMAINED THE STANDARD REFERENCE BOOK EVEN AS LATE AS LINé [1735]" (PMM 77). THE ANIMALS ARE ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY, WITH THE DESCRIPTIONS, WRITTEN BY GESSNER HIMSELF AS WELL HIS SCHOLARLY CONTEMPARIES, DETAILING THE NAME, HABITAT, CHARACTERISTICS, AND LITERARY/SYMBOLIC ASSOCIATIONS OF EACH. WHILE GESSNER LISTS A NUMBER OF MEN WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORK AND SENT PICTURES ANIMALS, HE DOES NOT NAME THE ARTISTS INVOLVED IN CREATING THE MANY WOODCUTS. THE RHINOCEROUS WOODCUT IS A COPY FROM DüRER.
PROVENANCE: JOHANNES FIRGLIN, PURCHASE INSCRIPTION DATED 8 OCT. 1569, BEQUEATHED TO -- COLLEGE OF ST. GEORGE, 1573, INSCRIPTION AND ATER INSCRIPTION DATED 1590.
A COMPLETE SET OF THE FIRST GERMAN EDITIONS OF GESSNER'S MONUMENTAL HISTORIA ANIMALIUM, WHICH WAS "THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE ZOOLOGICAL BOOK BETWEEN ARISTOTLE AND THE PUBLICATION OF RAY'S CLASSIFICATION OF FAUNA IN 1693. ... IT REMAINED THE STANDARD REFERENCE BOOK EVEN AS LATE AS LINé [1735]" (PMM 77). THE ANIMALS ARE ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY, WITH THE DESCRIPTIONS, WRITTEN BY GESSNER HIMSELF AS WELL HIS SCHOLARLY CONTEMPARIES, DETAILING THE NAME, HABITAT, CHARACTERISTICS, AND LITERARY/SYMBOLIC ASSOCIATIONS OF EACH. WHILE GESSNER LISTS A NUMBER OF MEN WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORK AND SENT PICTURES ANIMALS, HE DOES NOT NAME THE ARTISTS INVOLVED IN CREATING THE MANY WOODCUTS. THE RHINOCEROUS WOODCUT IS A COPY FROM DüRER.
PROVENANCE: JOHANNES FIRGLIN, PURCHASE INSCRIPTION DATED 8 OCT. 1569, BEQUEATHED TO -- COLLEGE OF ST. GEORGE, 1573, INSCRIPTION AND ATER INSCRIPTION DATED 1590.