BELON Pierre De Aquatilibus, libri duo. Cum eiconibus ad vivam ipsorum effigiem.

Adams, B-554; Nissen, FB, 13; Nissen, ZBI, 302; Renouard, Estienne, p. 104:6; Boudou-Kecskemeti, La France des Humanistes, p. 40-410.

First edition of this lovely book illustrated with 187 woodcuts. The preface is by Charles Estienne.

Pierre Belon (1517-1564) began his career as an apothecary working for such important figures as René du Bellay, bishop of Le Mans, Guillaume du Prat, archbishop of Lyon and François II de Tournon, which enabled him to devote himself to scientific research. After studying botany with Valerius Cordus in Wittenberg, in 1538 he took charge of the garden at the manor of Touvoie (Indre-et-Loire), considered to be one of the first botanical gardens in France.

Journey to the Levant

Belon was chosen to accompany the two ambassadors of François I to Soliman I the Magnificent. During this journey, which can be classified as one of the first naturalist journeys in history, he travelled to the Levant from 1546 to 1549.

During this trip, the scientist gathered a great deal of scientific information on natural history, archaeology and the customs of the inhabitants. On his return to France in 1549, Belon began to write books containing his scientific research.

This fine edition, printed by Charles Estiennne, also contains a preface by this famous printer in which he praises the scientist: “Pierre Belon m’a montré les merveilles de la mer qu’il a rassemblées sou forme d’images en Asie, en Afrique et en Europe. Je cède à son désir de partager son expérience avec tout le monde (freely translated from Latin by Boudou-Kecskemeti).

This charming small-format work by Belon on fish and other aquatic animals (including certain reptiles and amphibians) is the result of his personal observations during his travels in Europe. The captions to the 187 woodcut illustrations give the names in different languages and dialects, depending on the region of Europe where the fish and animals are found.

“Englobant tous les animaux marins dans le terme de ‘poisson’, il établit des principes de nomenclature et tente, mieux que Rondelet, un embryon de classification par des observations : cartilage ou squelette osseux, ovipare ou vivipare” (Boudou-Kecskemeti, p. 474).

There are also descriptions of some very rare species of Mediterranean fish, such as the gymnote, as well as some fantastic animals, including a spectacular fish looking like a monk.

Occasional small stains.