von Meidinger | Icones piscium Austriae indigenorum, Venice, 1785-90, fascicles 1-4 (of 5), Achille Valenciennes' copy

Carl von Meidinger

Icones piscium Austriae indigenorum quos collegit vivisque coloribus expressos. Vienna: Wappler, for the author, 1785-1790

Fascicles 1-4 (of 5), hand-coloured engraved vignettes of fishing scenes on titles, 40 superb hand-coloured engraved plates, each heightened with gum arabic, by Fr. Assner after drawings by J. Lachenbauer and Martin Sedelmayer, parts 1-3 in contemporary boards, part 4 with blue blind wrappers, red edges for fascicles 1-3, fascicle 4 with leaves uncut, leaves slightly frayed at edges in fascicle 4 (not affecting illustrations), rubbed

Achille Valenciennes' copy of one of the rarest and most beautiful publications on fishes. ABPC records only three complete copies at auction. The following is inscribed on the front pastedown: "Pour Monsieur Valenciennes aide-naturaliste au Musée d'histoire naturelle au Jardin des Plantes à Paris".

Valenciennes (1794-1865) was a distinguished French ichthyologist, herpetologist and parasitologist. He travelled to the American tropics between 1799-1803 where he became close friends with Alexander von Humboldt.

LITERATURE:

Nissen ZBI 2771; SFB 95