Folio from the first German edition of Conrad Gesner's Vogelbuch Zurich: Christopher Froschauer, 1557. FIRST GERMAN 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. Hand colour. Condition: Early manuscript description to margin. Large vertical tear with old repairs (see images). Small marginal tears and creases. Some staining to leaf. Age spotting and stains to margins. Fingering to corner recto. Please view the images carefully.