Conrad Gesner - Fischbuch - 1598

Beautiful, hand-colored woodcut of a "Zitterfisch" from Gesner's 'Fischbuch'.
Early German edition of the famous encyclopedia.

Frankfurt, Saur, 1598.
Dimensions: 35 x 22.7 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 devoted most of his time to 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 the so-called 'Fischbuch', which was dedicated to fish and marine animals.

Good condition, stains in white margin, some old creases.

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