Title: The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents Describing at Large Their True and Lively Figures… whereunto is now added, the Theater of Insects, 1658
Author: Edward Topsell, John Rowland
Publisher: London, Printed by E. Cotes, for G. Sawbridge at the Bible on Ludgate-hill, T. Williams at the Bible in Little-Britain, and T. Johnson, at the Key in Pauls Church-yard
Condition: Very Good
The first complete edition of Edward Topsell’s famous bestiary, The History of Four-Footed Beasts, also containing his History of Serpants, and the first English edition of The Theatre of Insects. The first two works are translations from Gesner's Historiae Animalium as The History of Four-footed Beasts first in 1607 and The History of Serpents in 1608. The Theatre of Insects, also known Insectorum Theatrum, had a much more significantly delayed printing, as it was left unpublished as a manuscript upon his death in 1565, and continued by friend and colleague Nicholas Penny, until he also passed in 1588. Then, Thomas Moffet was directed to complete the work in 1589. However, it was not printed until 1634, first in Latin, then, finally, in 1658.
There are hundreds of woodcuts throughout, with many full-page examples, including the famous rendition of Durer’s depiction of a rhino, and much, much more.
This volume has been restored and rebacked, by Canadian bookbinder Keith Felton, the once detached front board re-attached, and newly fitted endpapers.
Three parts finely bound into one volume in folio, (16)+818+(18)+889-1130+(6) pages
This volume is in very good shape, with some rubbing and scuffing to the boards. There is some foxing throughout.