Piso | Historia naturalis Brasiliae, 1648

PISO, WILLEM AND GEORG MARCGRAF

Historia naturalis Brasiliae. Leiden: Franciscus Hackius [and] Amsterdam: Elzevir, 1648

FIRST EDITION, 2 parts in one volume, folio (370 x 237mm.), additional engraved title, numerous woodcuts in the text, occasional manuscript annotations, errata, contemporary calf, spine gilt, minor spotting, binding with neat repairs (mostly to spine)

THE MOST NOTABLE SCIENTIFIC WORK COMPLETED IN BRAZIL IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

This work consists of: "two quite distinct parts. The one titled "Medicina Brasiliensi" is.. by William Pies (better known as Piso), Count de Nassau's physician in Pernambuco. The second part, entitled "Historia rerum naturalium Brasiliae" is by [George] Marcgraf and consists of eight books: the first three on plants, the fourth on fish, the fifth on birds, the sixth on quadrupeds and reptiles, and the seventh on insects, and the eight (written by Laet) describes the northeastern region of Brazil and its inhabitants" (Borba).

LITERATURE:

Borba de Moraes II, pp. 675-676