Pedacio Dioscoride; Pietro Andrea Matthiolo - Il Dioscoride - 1552

Half-leather binding with marbled paper. Spine with three raised bands with leather hubs, ornaments, and a gold title.

[68], 845, 1 blank leaf, 144, [6]

Third enlarged edition of the famous Discourses by Pietro Andrea Mattioli on Pedanius Dioscorides’ Materia Medica. This monumental Renaissance work on botany and pharmacopoeia, printed in Venice by Vincenzo Valgrisi, unites the classical wisdom of the Greek physician with Mattioli’s detailed medical and natural observations.
This specific edition from 1552, printed with an expanded sixth book, is regarded as a fundamental gem in the history of medicine and botany and is highly sought after by collectors of antique texts.

Printer’s marks on the title pages (the sixth book has its own title page, unlike the earlier ones). Numerous historiated initials. Double ex libris on the flyleaf. A negligible wormhole along the inner margin in the central part of the volume. Another couple of wormholes here and there that never compromise the text. Some pages yellowed, with as well as light foxing. Brown stain at the outer margin of the first 40 leaves. Overall a good copy, complete and usable.