Topsell, Edward (1572-1625?) The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes; [bound with] The Historie of Serpents.

Description:

Topsell, Edward (1572-1625?) The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes; [bound with] The Historie of Serpents. London: Printed by William Jaggard, 1607 [and] 1608. First editions of both titles, folio, title page of Beastes with woodcut of the gorgon; both titles illustrated with woodcuts of animals throughout, bound in full leather, rebacked, 12 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.

"Topsell's work is remembered chiefly for its detailed and vigorous illustrations, including the famous image known as Dürer's Rhinoceros. The illustrations have been widely reproduced in many contexts, and Topsell's bestiary has been reprinted in various modern editions, usually in greatly reduced form. [...] Topsell, repeating ancient legends, assigns exotic attributes to actual animals. He writes, for example, that: True toads have a toadstone in their heads that protects people from poison. Weasels give birth through their ears. Lemmings graze in the clouds. Elephants worship the sun and the moon and become pregnant by chewing on mandrake. Apes are terrified of snails. Of the procreation of mice, Topsell writes, it 'is not only by copulation, but also nature worketh wonderfully in ingenduring them by earth.'" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Topsell)

Beastes: A2-6 (lacking first blank, A1),[para]6, [2para]8, *2, B-Z6, Aa-Vv6, Aaa-Xxx6, Yyy7 (lacking final blank Yyy8).
http://estc.bl.uk/S122276

Serpents: A2-6, B-V6, Aa-Hh6.
http://estc.bl.uk/S122051
Estimate $8,000-10,000

Title page with repairs to verso, title and last leaf with marginal wear and tear; dampstain to inner gutter of first ten or so leaves, binding is rebacked, toning to contents, old marbling to page edges (worn),ink title to fore edge.


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