Conrad Gesner - Thierbuch - 1598

Beautiful hand-colored woodcuts of a Brown bear and an African Civet and the skin of a Genet from Gesner's "Thierbuch".
Early German edition of the famous encyclopedia.

Frankfurt, Saur, 1598.
Dimensions: 33 x 22 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). This woodcut was published in the 3rd volume of the "Historia Animalium" dedicated to birds.

Good condition, tear with old restoration (hardly visible), a few spots. Old annotations on backside.

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