Beschreibung:

1 (of 2) vol. in-f° : [16]-583-[23] pp. (small foxing, stamp on the title-page, some pp. somewhat browned, half of the vol. stained in the upper margin). 17th century emblazoned binding : threequarter sheepskin, decorated paper boards, gilt decorated ribbed spine (wormholes, even in the pastedowns - restored - and flyleaves, small lacks of leather, scratches). FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST PART of this reknown work on the marine animals without distinction between fish, marine mammals (seals, whales...), crustaceans and other invertebrates as it was common in that time. Describes also some phantasmagoric creatures as the fish in a monk or bishop habits. Illustrated with the portrait of Rondelet by Pierre Vase and with c. 250 vignettes in the text. Rondelet (1507-1566) was "Regius professor" of medicine and then Chancellor of the University of Montpellier until his death. As professor, he taught a.o. to Charles de l'Écluse, Matthias Lobelius and Pierre Pena. Printer's mark on the title-page. # Baudrier X-239/240; # Nissen, ZBI, 3474; # Adams R-746 (1st part); # STC French p. 384; # USTC 151588; # not in Soltész nor in Machiels. Provenance : cardinal François-Xavier de Zelada, Secretary of the state of Pius VI who established an observatory and an experimental physics cabinet in the Vatican open to foreign scholars (emblazoned ex libris and supra libros). ¶ Édition originale de la première partie de la zoologie marine de Rondelet illustré du portrait de l'auteur et de c. 250 in texto (pet. rouss., lég. us.).