Beautiful hand colored woodcut of a Hoopoe from the FIRST EDITION of Gesner's "Icones animalium quadrupedum uiuiparorum et ouiparorum". From the first edition, being the Latin one. Zürich, Christopher Froschauer, 1555. Dimensions: 37,5 x 23,5 cm. Conrad Gesner is regarded the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology and botany. He was a Renaissance polymath, physician, philosopher, bibliographer, philologist, natural historian and illustrator and spent most of his time collecting, research 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 part of the "Historia Animalium" which is dedicated to birds. Good condition, backside with some old annotations, one small wormhole restored, some light brown spots.