Fuchs, Leonhard

FIRST EDITION, folio (377 x 240mm.), woodcut device on title and at end, woodcut portrait of Fuchs on verso of title, portraits of the artist Heinrich Füllmaurer, Albrecht Meyer, and Veit Rudolph Speckle on recto of penultimate leaf, over 500 full-page woodcuts of plants in text, ALL WITH FINE CONTEMPORARY HAND COLOUR, ruled in red throughout, contemporary brown morocco gilt, central oval foliate motif surrounded by two gilt fillet borders, the first with fleuron corner-pieces, spine gilt in eight compartments, gilt edges, binding slightly rubbed, joints repaired

Horblit 33b; Hunt 48; Nissen BBI 658; PMM 69; Stafleu TL2 1909; VD16 F3242

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A FINELY-COLOURED COPY OF “PERHAPS THE MOST CELEBRATED AND MOST BEAUTIFUL HERBAL EVER PUBLISHED” (Printing and the Mind of Man).

Fuchs, together with Otto Brunfels and Hieronymous Bock, was one of the three German fathers of modern botany. Although Fuchs's main objective was medicinal (he was professor of medicine at Tübingen), he also gives accurate botanical descriptions. The illustrations show over 400 German plants and 100 foreign plants, including the first description of several recently-discovered American plants, such as maize (mistakenly thought by Fuchs to originate in Turkey), pumpkin, chilli pepper, and snap bean. The illustrations themselves were drawn from life by Albert Meyer, mainly using examples found in Fuchs's garden. Füllmaurer transferred the images to woodblock where they were cut by Speckle; all three of these illustrators are named and depicted in the book. The woodcuts, with their elegant economy of style and lack of shading, lend themselves beautifully to the delicately applied colours.