Johnstonus; Merian - Historiae Naturalis - 1657

Complete edition of Historiae Naturalis by John Johnston and Matthäus Merian “Historiae naturalis de avibus [-de piscibus et cetis ,-de exanguibus aquaticis,-de quadrupedibus,-de insectis, -de serpentibus]” 1657. All 6 parts in 4 volumes with 4 engraved allegorical frontispieces and 249 full-page copper engravings. Bound in later half-leather bindings with both lower and upper gold decoration as well as gilded title on two spine labels. “De Avibus Libri VI.” With 62 full-page copper engravings, of which the first was colored. The title copperplate and the 5 following leaves have a slight crease in the center of the pages. The page with the colored copper is somewhat browned. From around the middle to the end there are continuous, occasionally stronger, stains along the inner and outer margins. Collation: title copperplate, 5 leaves, 160 pages “De Piscibus et Cetis Libri VI” With 47 full-page copper engravings. The frontispiece has been reinforced a bit at one lower corner of the backside. The first two pages and the first copperplate show small brown spots in the inner area. Beginning and end somewhat speckled. The back of the binding carries a small to moderately large scratch with some material loss. Conjoined: “De Exanguibus aquaticis Libri VI” With 20 copper engravings. Collation: title copperplate, 3 leaves, 160 pages, 58 pages, 1 leaf “De quadrupedibus libri” With 80 full-page copper engravings. The lower spine label has small defects and is somewhat brittle. The pages are slightly browned and from the beginning to about the middle show partial heavier staining. Collation: title copperplate, 3 leaves, 163 pages “De Insectis libri III” With 28 full-page copper engravings. Bound: “De Serpentibus libri II” With 12 full-page copper engravings. Uniformly slightly browned and a bit mottled. Collation: title copperplate, 3 leaves, 147 pages, one leaf, 27 (recte 37) pages Overall in good condition. The pages are occasionally browned and show some stains, partly at the margins, partly full-page, otherwise in good preservation. Occasional copper engravings with incorrect numbering and occasional occasional bleed-through. Dimensions: 34.5 x 23 cm

Estimate:$8,067.18

View all items fromCatawikiorBooks, Maps & Manuscripts