[Rarebooks] FS: The most important treatise on aquatic animals and fish in the 16th Century, illustrated with over 400 woodcuts

[Charles Agvent]

RONDELET, Guillaume [RONDELETIUS, Gulielmus]. LIBRI DE PISCIBUS MARINIS, 
IN QUIBUS VERAE PISCIUM EFFIGIES EXPRESSAE SUNT QUAE IN TOTA PISCIUM 
HISTORIA CONTINEANTUR, INDICAT ELENCHUS PAGINA NONA ET DECIMA. POSTREMO 
ACCESSERUNT INDICES NECESSARIJ. Lyons: Matthiam Bonhomme, 1554/1555. 
First Edition. Folio (8" x 13") bound in recent full calf with five 
raised bands, gilt-lettered spine label, and some blind tooling. Two 
parts in one volume: (16), 583, (25); (12), 242, (10) pages. Titles with 
woodcut device, each part with privilege leaf and woodcut portrait of 
the author, woodcut initials, ornaments and over 400 woodcut 
illustrations of fish and other forms of aquatic life throughout. Adams 
R 746 & 757; Casey Wood, 541: "this famous grandfather of modern 
ichthyology"; Garrison-Morton 282; Nissen 3474; Norman 1848: "The work 
is especially valuable for its accurate treatment of Mediterranean 
species, and for providing what are apparently the first zoological 
accounts of the manatee and the sperm whale." The most important 
treatise on aquatic animals and fish published up that time. Based 
largely on classical authorities, in particular Aristotle, it also 
includes results of the author's own observations through experiments 
and anatomical investigations. It remained the standard reference work 
in ichthyology for over a century. Woodcut of fish on page 238 of first 
part pasted over with another woodcut, Y4 in first part and g2 & n3 in 
second all slightly defective at fore-edge (repaired with loss of a few 
letters, some supplied in manuscript), H1 of second part defective at 
foot (no loss) and H6 (final leaf) stained at edges and defective (no 
loss, laid down), small ink monogram stamped on verso of first title, 
very light water-staining to upper half, otherwise very clean. A Near 
Fine copy of this scarce title with wonderful woodcuts. (#013155)        
$10,000.00

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