Topsell, Edward

Estimate

6,000 - 8,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Topsell, Edward
The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes. Describing the true and liuely figure of euery Beast, with a discourse of their seuerall Names, Conditions, Kindes, Vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde.... [with]: The Historie of Serpents. Or, The second booke of liuing creatures: wherein is contained their diuine, naturall, and morall descriptions, with their liuely figures, names, conditions, kindes and natures of all venemous beasts: with their seuerall poysons and antidotes... London: by William Iaggard, 1607, 1608
ink, paper, leather

Folio (13 x 8 1/2 ins.; 335 x 218 mm). Woodcut illustration of sea-wolf (rather than the usual gorgon) on first title and 133 woodcut illustrations in text including numerous full-page, woodcut illustration of boa on title of second work with numerous woodcuts in text; very light diminishing dampstain to fore-margin. Contemporary calf, paneled in gilt and blind; restoration to spine, joints and corners.

Provenance

acquisition: Bernard Quaritch

Literature

STC 24123, 24124; ESTC S122276, S122051; Nissen ZBI 4145-6; Wellcome 6323-4 (featuring a different issue with "The Gorgon" on the first title-page); Wood, p.599

Catalogue Note

first editions, Beastes being the first illustrated natural history work published in English. For both works Topsell essentially translated Gesner's Historiae Animalium and copied that work's illustrations.

"This book was the great picture book of the seventeenth century, and is consequently nearly always tattered, dog-eared and imperfect" (Wood).