Lot 138: 

BRUNFELS, Otto (ca 1489-1534). Herbarum vivae eicones ad naturae imitationem -Novi Herbarii tomus II -De vera herbarum cognitione appendix. Strassburg: Johann Schott, 1532-1531 [vol. II second colophon: 14 February 1532].

Two volumes bound in one (the appendix added to vol.II), 2υo (287 x 188 mm). Vol. I: Title within woodcut allegorical border, 4- and 5-part borders to several pages, woodcut arms of Strassburg, ornamental and historiated initials, head- and tailpieces, 86 woodcuts of plants by Hans Weiditz, ALL COLORED IN A CONTEMPORARY HAND; vol. II: Title within woodcut allegorical border, 4- part border on 2 pages, 49 woodcut illustrations by Weidnitz ALL COLORED IN A CONTEMPORARY HAND. (A4 in volume I bound after b4, lacking blanks b4 and G6 in the first volume and H4 and S6 in the second, small stain in lower margin of first title and first text leaf, some leaves lightly browned, occasional minor staining.) 18th-century mottled calf gilt, edges gilt (rebacked preserving original gilt spine panels, repairs to corners, some slight drying). Provenance: Johannes Beusler (early ownership inscription on title); Jean Charles Patin (1817 inscription on front flyleaf noting that he is a native of Manneville and currently farming in Bèzu-la-Forêt); acquired from William Schatzki, 1971.

A FINELY COLORED COPY of the second edition of volume I (the first was 1530) and FIRST EDITION OF VOLUME TWO OF THE FIRST BOTANICAL BOOK TO CONTAIN REALISTIC AND ACCURATE ILLUSTRATIONS. Referred to as "the first great mind in modern botany" (Hunt), Brunfels' most revolutionary contribution was his choice of artist to accurately portray these "living portraits of plants." The magnificent woodcuts executed by Weiditz were taken from watercolors drawn directly from nature and delineate botanical details well beyond their known function in the taxonomic literature of the time.

The appendix at the end of the second volume contains the first published writings of both Jerome Bock and Leonhardt Fuchs. After Brunfels's death, a third volume was published (1536-39) and was illustrated after different artists.

Adams B-2924 and B-2925; Fairfax Murray German 462 (1530 edition); Garrison-Morton 1803; Grolier/Horblit 33a; Hunt 30 (mixed edition); Nissen BBI 257,Ib, IIa and 257,III; Norman 361; Stafleu &Cowan; TL2 852 and 853; Pritzel 1283. Fact and Fantasy 27.

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