VENDU
2 volumes, 4to (257 x 199 mm) 2 unn.ll., LXII, 368 pp., 139 woodcut plates, 1 folded copper plate for volume I ; 2 unn.ll., 387 pp., 111 woodcut plates, 3 folded copper plates for volume II. Contemporary marbled calf, spine gilt with raised bands, red speckled edges (lower coner of volume II rubbed, else fine).
1 in stock
Nissen, BBI, 547 ; Pritzel, 2469 ; Stafleu-Cowan, 1544 ; Hunt, 552.
First edition of this great French classic on trees and shrubs, lavishly illustrated with 250 woodcuts.
Most of the 250 woodcuts were taken from the original woodblocks, engraved around 1560 by Liberale and Meyerpeck for Valgrisi, the publisher of the famous Hernal by Matthioli (Prague edition 1562-1563 and Venice edition 1565), which Duhamel found and describes in the preface: “J’ai eu le bonheur de recouvrer presque toutes les planches de la belle édition latine du Matthiole de Valgrise : les Imprimeurs de mon Ouvrage ont fait graver avec soin celles qui y manquoient; entre celles-ci il s’en trouve plusieurs qui n’avaient point été représentées jusqu’à présent dans les livres de Botanique, ou qui l’étoient fort mal, n’ayant été dessinées que sur des planches sèches”.
The copper plates show methods of collecting sap from conifers, how to extract olive oil, and techniques for making charcoal and soap.
One corner of the upper cover of volume II rubbed, otherwise a very good, clean copy.
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