Matthäus Merian (b1593) - hand coloured folio: Snakes, Vipers - 1657
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One hand coloured folio engraving by Matthäus Merian the Elder (b. 1593) titled Matthäus Merian (b1593) - hand coloured folio: Snakes, Vipers, issued in Amsterdam in 1657, with a single copy measuring 32.7 × 20.1 cm in Fair condition.
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Description from the seller
Illustrates various snakes, including species labeled as "Aspis" (Viper) and others based on 17th-century classifications.
369 year old folio engraving by Matheus Merian and issued in Jon Jonston's Historia Naturalis..., Published in Amsterdam in 1657.
Matthäus Merian der Ältere (or "Matthew", "the Elder", or "Sr."; 22 September 1593 - 19 June 1650) was a Swiss-born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career, where he also ran a publishing house.
Born in Basel, Merian learned the art of copperplate engraving in Zürich. He next worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris, before returning to Basel in 1615. The following year he moved to Frankfurt, Germany where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry, who was the son of renowned engraver and traveler Theodor de Bry.
Early in his life, he had created detailed town plans in his unique style, e.g. the plan of Basel (1615). With Martin Zeiler (1589 - 1661), a German geographer, and later (circa 1640) with his own son, Matthäus Merian (der Jüngere, i.e. "the Younger" or "Jr.") (1621 - 1687), he produced a series of Topographia. It includes numerous town plans and views, as well as maps of most countries and a World Map—it was such a popular work. He also took over and completed the later parts and editions of the Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages, originally started by de Bry in 1590.
Condition: Fair. Left margin tight. Vertical crease to leaf. Minor surface stain, more marked to margin. Fingering to lower right corner. Please view images closely for overall condition.
Seller's Story
Having studied at Oxford University in the early 1980s I was lucky enough to learn about the rare book and print trade by scuttling around the markets and auction houses of London at a time when it was still quite possible to discover "that find". Similarly I was able to hone my specialist interests in illustrated Natural History, Mythology and Science, something that I hope is still reflected in the items I offer.
The aim is to offer the rare, interesting, unusual, beautiful and strange, from Master Engravings to Exquisite Folios. So at the very least we hope your visit to the site to be a rewarding and enlightening experience!
Daniel Good Rare Books
Illustrates various snakes, including species labeled as "Aspis" (Viper) and others based on 17th-century classifications.
369 year old folio engraving by Matheus Merian and issued in Jon Jonston's Historia Naturalis..., Published in Amsterdam in 1657.
Matthäus Merian der Ältere (or "Matthew", "the Elder", or "Sr."; 22 September 1593 - 19 June 1650) was a Swiss-born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career, where he also ran a publishing house.
Born in Basel, Merian learned the art of copperplate engraving in Zürich. He next worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris, before returning to Basel in 1615. The following year he moved to Frankfurt, Germany where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry, who was the son of renowned engraver and traveler Theodor de Bry.
Early in his life, he had created detailed town plans in his unique style, e.g. the plan of Basel (1615). With Martin Zeiler (1589 - 1661), a German geographer, and later (circa 1640) with his own son, Matthäus Merian (der Jüngere, i.e. "the Younger" or "Jr.") (1621 - 1687), he produced a series of Topographia. It includes numerous town plans and views, as well as maps of most countries and a World Map—it was such a popular work. He also took over and completed the later parts and editions of the Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages, originally started by de Bry in 1590.
Condition: Fair. Left margin tight. Vertical crease to leaf. Minor surface stain, more marked to margin. Fingering to lower right corner. Please view images closely for overall condition.
Seller's Story
Having studied at Oxford University in the early 1980s I was lucky enough to learn about the rare book and print trade by scuttling around the markets and auction houses of London at a time when it was still quite possible to discover "that find". Similarly I was able to hone my specialist interests in illustrated Natural History, Mythology and Science, something that I hope is still reflected in the items I offer.
The aim is to offer the rare, interesting, unusual, beautiful and strange, from Master Engravings to Exquisite Folios. So at the very least we hope your visit to the site to be a rewarding and enlightening experience!
Daniel Good Rare Books
Details
Number of books
1
Book title
Matthäus Merian (b1593) - hand coloured folio: Snakes, Vipers
Condition
Fair
Publication year oldest item
1657
Height
32.7 cm
Width
20.1 cm
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