Superb folio from the first German edition of Conrad Gesner's Vogelbuch Zurich: Christopher Froschauer, 1557. FIRST ISSUE!!! Reference: Nissen 350. Conrad Gessner was a Renaissance polymath, a physician, philosopher, encyclopaedist, bibliographer, philologist, natural historian and illustrator. The woodcuts for the work were undertaken by Hans Asper, Johann Thomas, and Lukas Schrön. Fine 16th century folio. Original hand colour to Nutcracker with gum arabica. Nightjar uncoloured. Some light marginal age spotting. Upper margin with a few clean tears with old backing (these do not impinge on woodcuts). Please view the images carefully.