BELON (Pierre): La nature et diversité des... - Lot 5 - Vermot et Associés

BELON (Pierre): La nature et diversité des poissons, avec leur portraits représentés plus près du naturel. Charles Estienne, 1555. In-8 oblong (11 x 16 cm) period parchment, ribbed spine. First French edition, illustrated with 186 woodcuts in the text. Extremely rare, this edition described by Brunet (I-761) is the very first of three published in 1555. Belon (1517- 1564) was one of the greatest scientists of the sixteenth century. In 1546, he made a major voyage to Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Palestine, one of the first naturalist journeys in history. On his return to France, he published the report of his voyage Les observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses mémomarbles trouvées en Grèce, Asie, Judée (1553), as well as remarkable studies on marine animals L'histoire naturelle des estranges poissons marins (1551) and La nature et diversité des poissons (1555). In this book, he based his work on observation, correcting what Aristotle, Oppianus, Pliny and other classical authors had written. Almost all sea fish are Mediterranean, but there are also Atlantic species obtained from the Paris market. Marine mammals, crabs, langoustines, shellfish, oysters and bucardes are also well depicted. Other descriptions and diagrams refer, however, to fabulous animals such as Neptune's horse, the sea monk and the sea eagle. The engravings are attributed to the painter Pierre Gourdelle (Nissen, Schöne Fischbücher, 1951, 12; Pietsch, 1995; Danse, 1978). Along with Rondelet, this work is the first treatise on scientific ichthyology. Belon proposes a classification of aquatic animals and describes, for the first time in Europe, many previously unknown animals. A highly sought-after work for the quality of its woodwork, the precious remarks that accompany it, and for the personality of Pierre Belon du Mans (1517-1564), apothecary to Cardinal de Tournon, great traveler and naturalist. A few small brown spots, but a superbly preserved copy. (collation: 1ff bl., 20 ff., 448p with 186 engravings )