Title: Les Observations de Plusieurs Singularitez et Choses Memorables, Trouuées en Grece, Asie, Iudée, Egypte, Arabie, & autres pays estranges redigées en trois liures, 1553
Author: Pierre Belon
Publisher: Paris, En la boutique de G. Corrozet
Condition: Very Good
The first edition of Pelon’s Observations of Several Singularities and Memorable Things, found in Greece, Asia, Iudea, Egypt, Arabia, and other strange countries, written in three volumes.
An influential work on the history, geography, and natural history of the Near and Middle East by the French naturalist and explorer Pierre Belon du Mans. Belon travelled through these regions between 1546 and 1550 and made numerous observations on local plants and their uses, on animals (including a great deal on herpetology), people (with their various costumes), and towns.
There are numerous woodcut illustrations throughout, depicting plants, animals, Middle Eastern costumes, and two woodcut maps of Alexandria, and the Strait of Hellespont (Dardanelles) with the city of Abydos.
The title page and three other prelims, as well as leaves 9, 12-13, 16, 49, 52, 58-59, 93, 96, 117, 120-121, 124, 182-183, and 185 are lacking. Leaf 169, being the third title page, has been rebound at the front to serve as a supplementary main title.
One vellum bound volume in quarto, (8 of 12)+192 of 210+(1) leaves
This volume is in very good shape, with minor wear and splay to the binding. The last two leaves are torn, with a bit of text loss to the last leaf. There is some foxing and staining throughout.