Gessner, Conrad.

Historiae Animalium. 6 parts in 4 volumes. With more than 1,000 (partly full-page) woodcuts.

Zurich, Chr. Froschauer, 1551-1587. Folio. I. Liber primus de quadrupedibus viviparis. [20] leaves, 1104 pp., [5] leaves.- II. Liber II que est de quadrupedibus oviparis. [3] leaves, [1] blank leaf, 110 pp., [1] blank leaf, 27 pp. - BOUND IN AT THE BEGINNING: Liber III. Qui est de Avium natura. [17] leaves, [1] blank leaf, 779 pp. - III. Liber IV. Qui est de piscium & aquatilium animatium natura. [20] leaves, 1297 pp. - IV. Liber V. Qui est de serpentium natura. [6], 85 leaves, [1] blank leaf. - BOUND IN: De Scorpione. 11 leaves (without the last blank leaf). - Parchment bindings c. 1700, with manuscript titles on spine and blind stamped midsection (I-III; hinges partially cracking, somewhat stained and bumped, older restorations). Volume IV: Newer leather binding in the style of the period with gold-stamped title on spine.

VD16 G 1723, G 1724, G 1730, G 1738 and G 1744 - Adams G 532, 534-535, 538-539 - BM STC German 358 - Rudolphi 384, 438, 454, 487 and 827 - Nissen ZBI 1549, 1550, 1553 and 1556 - Nissen IVB 349 (III.) - A complete copy of Gessner's Thierbuch with all six parts in the first edition.

- Slightly browned, occasional light finger stains or damp stains in the margins, one text leaf in the first volume with larger tear, overall in good condition. - Provenance: Old handwritten ownership entry on titles, bookplates and handwritten signature on pastedowns: The Hirsel Library (I-III).