Conrad Gesner - Vogelbuch - 1617

Beautiful original hand-colored woodcut, heightened with egg-white, of a Crane from Gesner's Historiae animalium Liber III "Vogelbuch", 1617.

Frankfurt, E. Emmel für H. Laurentius, 1617.
Dimensions: 35,5 x 24,5 cm.

Conrad Gesner is considered the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology and botany.
He was a Renaissance polymath, physician, philosopher, bibliographer, philologist, natural historian, and illustrator who spent most of his time collecting, researching, and writing. He compiled monumental works on bibliography (Bibliotheca universalis 1545–1549) and zoology (Historia Animalium 1551–1558). These woodcuts were published in so called " Vogelbuch" dedicated to birds.

Good condition, a few spots, old pencil marks and a few old creases. Some shine-through.