Winter de Adlersflügel, Georg Simon

Tractatio Nova de Re Equaria Complectens partes tres ... & in usum quoque exterarum nationum è Germanico in Latinum, Italicum & Gallicum translata. Nuremberg: Johann Andreas & heirs of Wolfgang Endter, 1672



Folio (13 x 8 in.; 330 x 203 mm). Engraved title by P. Troschel, 2 letter-press titles, 37 engraved plates of which 6 are double-page and 2 with two subjects, one double-page table, parallel text in Latin, German, Italian, and French, 1 woodcut text illustration (p. 94), decorative woodcut initials, extra-illustrated with 39 leaves plus marginal and blank verso additions in contemporary manuscript containing medical recipes and treatments for horses in German evidently compiled by Hecht; small tear in left margin of plate no. 30 entering image, some small dampstains at lower edge, occasional marginal soiling and spotting. Contemporary vellum with yapp edges, manuscript title on spine; soiled, a few rust stains.

Thomas Wilhelm Hecht (manuscript exlibris on second title with motto "Recte faciendo Symbolum Neminem timeas" dated "1676") —unidentified engraved armorial bookplate

Huth, p. 24; Nissen ZBI 4426; Mennessier de la Lance II, p. 648; Wells 8287

First edition in Latin. Evidently composed in German, but first published in that language in 1674. Providing a complete description of the organization and management of a stud-farm, with discussion of stable architecture, the physical and psychological characteristics of horses, and their breeds, the work was extremely popular in both languages and was republished several times in the author's lifetime.

Winter (1634-after 1690) was a master of horse breeding at Ansbach (formerly Onolzbach), Güterstein, Offenhausen and Marbach bei Münsingen. Dedicated to the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, the wonderful plates depict a variety of breeds, the faults and beauties of the horse, and the coupling of the stallion, donkey and bull with a mare.