Hortus Sanitatis (German)

Gart der Gesundheit. Augsburg: [Johann Schönsperger], "an montag nechst vor Bartholomei" [22 August] 1485

Median folio (11 1/8 x 7 7/8 in.; 282 x 200 mm). collation: a–t⁸, v⁷, x–z, A–Q⁸, R⁶, S–V⁸, T⁶, V⁶ = 353 (of 370) leaves; lacking leaves v2, R3, R6, final T3 & 6, final V7 & 8, and index quire X¹⁰ including final blank leaf. Type 1:120, 38 lines, full-page woodcut of a group of thirteen scholars in a garden (a1v), half-page woodcut of a woman with a physician holding a urine flask (first V5r), 379 half-page and smaller woodcuts of plants (368) and animals (11, the elephant repeated), seven-line initial "O" on a2r, the woodcuts and initial finely colored by a contemporary hand, spaces left for initials, unrubricated, coat-of-arms in lower margin of first text leaf; marginal soiling, some spots and light dampstains, leaf a1 and v7 detached the latter with a clean tear in image, mended marginal tears on 12 leaves, first two text leaves guarded, the first shaved at bottom affecting only the coat-of-arms. Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over beveled oak boards, decorated in a panel design, two medial panels with roll-tools of heads of secular and holy figures, remains of brass clasps and catches, modern ms. title on spine; rubbed and soiled, head and foot of spine torn, corners torn.

Johann Melchior Zorn, "pharmacist under the sign of the White Angel" (with his purchase note dated 20 July 1603 on first text page)

Goff G-98; H 8949*; BMC II, 365; BSB Ink W-94; Klebs 507.2; Polain (B) 4445; Nissen BBI 2267

collation: a - t8, v7, x - z, A - Q8, R6, S - V8, T6, V6 = 353 (of 370) leaves; lacking leaves v2, R3, R6, final T3 & 6, final V7 & 8, and index quire X10 including final blank leaf. Type 1:120, 38 lines, full-page woodcut of a group of thirteen scholars in a garden (a1v), half-page woodcut of a woman with a physician holding a urine flask (first V5r), 379 half-page and smaller woodcuts of plants (368) and animals (11, the elephant repeated), seven-line initial "O" on a2r, the woodcuts and initial finely colored by a contemporary hand, spaces left for initials, unrubricated; marginal soiling, some spots and light dampstains, leaf a1 and v7 detached the latter with a clean tear in image, mended marginal tears on 12 leaves. Contemporary blind-tooled pigskin over beveled oak boards, decorated in a panel design, two medial panels with roll-tools of heads of secular and holy figures, remains of brass clasps and catches; rubbed and soiled, head and foot of spine torn, corners torn.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Second edition, of "a landmark in the history of botanical illustration" (Hunt 5), a pirated version of the Herbarius printed by Peter Schoeffer, which appeared in an enlarged vernacular edition only six months before (28 March 1485, Goff G-97). It is one of the first scientific incunables printed in the vernacular, made especially useful with three indexes and larger, more accurate woodcuts than the original Latin version.

Formerly attributed to Johann Wonnecke von Cube, town physician of Frankfurt (mentioned at the end of chapter 76), he is now thought to have had only an editorial role as there are many authors mentioned in the text (Dioscorides, Galen, et al). The text treats the medical uses of metals, water, butter, as well as animals and plants. The key significance of the work lies in its illustrations, some 65 of which are drawn from nature. "[These] delineations of plants, breaking away from the traditional stylized woodcut, were not only unsurpasses, but unequalled for nearly a half century" (Hunt), until the publication of Brunfel's Herbarum vivae eicones (1530).

Schönsperger published seven of the fourteen re-editions, but this was the only one to be printed in the same large format illustrated with full-size or near full-size copies (mostly reversed) of Schoeffer's woodcuts; the later editions contain reduced copies. The frontispiece cut is a close copy of the Schoeffer cut except for the shield at the top which here bears a pine cone, the emblem of Augsburg.

Of the 28 copies recorded in ISTC, 17 are imperfect and 2 consist of only a single leaf. Only one other copy of this edition (slightly misdated in the catalog) has appeared at auction since 1975.