BELON, P. Les
Observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses memorables, trouvées
en Grece, Asie, Iudée, Egypte, Arabie, & autres pays
estranges, redigées en trois livres. Paris, Gilles Corrozet,
1553. 4to. Leaves (12), 210, (2), with 34 woodcuts, including 2
woodcut maps. 19th century half calf, gilt ornamented spine.
Scarce first edition of this famous account
on the Near East, describing and depicting its flora and fauna for
the first time. The work became quite popular and several editions
appeared untill 1588. Brunet describes the present first edition as:
'Première édition d'un ouvrage qui a été
longtemps fort recherché'. Belon is one of the first
explorer-naturalists as well as one of the most orginal scientists of
the 16th century and greatly enriched biological sciences by new
observations. Between 1546 and 1550 he extensively travelled the Near
East, visting Greece, Asia, Judaea, Egypt, Arabia and other foreign
countries. In the present work he laid down his valuable
observations, a publication not only famous for its scientific
content, but also for its fine typography.
"Belon was
also a talented botanist and recorded the results of his observations
in a beautiful work adorned with woodcuts showing, for the FIRST TIME
several plants of the near East, including Platanus orientalis,
Umbilicus pendulinus, Acacia vera, and Caucalis orientalis. He was
more interested in the practical uses of plants than in their
scientific descriptions. He also advocated the acclimatization of
exotic plants in France... Belon's observations were generally
correct. He looked at the world as an analyst devoted to detail. He
succeeded in winning the confidence of the great and was famous
during his lifetime" (DSB). One small wormwhole towards the end.
A very fine copy.
Brunet I, p. 762; Nissen ZBI, 304.