Lot 20: BAUHIN, Jean (1541-1613) and Jean-Henri CHERLER (ca. 1570 - ca. 1610). Historia plantarum universalis. Yverdon: [Typographia Caldoriana], 1650-51.

BAUHIN, Jean (1541-1613) and Jean-Henri CHERLER (ca. 1570 - ca. 1610). Historia plantarum universalis. Yverdon: [Typographia Caldoriana], 1650-51.

3 volumes, 2o (380 x 236 mm). 3 engraved additional titles, engraved portrait of Caspar Bauhin, and over 3500 small woodcuts in text. (Some occasional browning and spotting.) Contemporary blind-stamped vellum over boards (slight cracking to some joints). Provenance: Haskell F. Norman (bookplate, his sale Christie's New York, part I, 18 March 1998, lot 32).

FIRST EDITION, published posthumously by Dominique Chabre and Franois Louis de Graffenried of Yverdon. The Historia describes "about 5,000 species in a clear and accurate manner, taking into consideration all the organs and properties of the plants as well as their ecology. Though Jean Bauhin was not considered as great a botanist as his brother Gaspard, this encyclopaedia of botanical knowledge had enormous value" (Hunt). This copy for the most part corresponds with Hunt's second issue of vol. 3, with pagination and signatures partially corrected. A FINE SET. Hunt 251; Nissen BBI 103; Norman 141; Pritzel 504; Stafleu-Cowan TL2 368.