Beautiful, hand-colored woodcut, heightened with egg-white of a Kingsnake from Gesner's "Fischbuch". Early German edition of the famous encyclopedia. Frankfurt, Saur, 1598. Conrad Gesner is considered the father of modern scientific bibliography, zoology, and botany. He was a polymath, physician, philosopher, bibliographer, philologist, natural historian, and illustrator from the Renaissance 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 "Vogelbuch," dedicated to fish and marine animals. Dimensions: 34,4 x 22,2 cm. Good condition, tear in upper left corner restored. Attention for US buyers: Due to recent postal restrictions shipping to the US can only be done by DHL, therefore higher shipping costs apply!