Strasbourg, Johann Prüss (1497).

with title on gilted spine: Tractat de herbis. In-folio. 360 unnumbered sheets. Text divided into two columns/page (4 columns/page in the case of the register). With over 1050 in-text woodcuts [ca. 11 x 7 cm] and 3 full-page woodcuts. With some decorative margin notes (images of human heads or hands pointing towards a certain paragraph). This very rare Incunable was first published by Jacob Meydenbach in Mainz, in the year 1491 (Hain 8940. 13549). Hortus Sanitatis is a very early natural history encyclopedia, a comprehensive work which explores various species in the natural world, detailing their medicinal uses and methods of preparation. Differing from its predecessorsthe Latin Herbarius moguntinus (1484) and the German Gart der Gesundheit (1485) published by Peter Schöffer, which focused primarily on autumnthe Hortus sanitatis delves into animals, birds, fish, and minerals (stones) as well. Notably, it extends beyond real creatures, incorporating accounts of mythical creatures like dragons, harpies, hydras, myrmecoleons, phoenixes, and zitirons, pegasus. It summarizes all late medieval knowledge on the subject and establishes itself as the "most important natural history work of the Middle Ages" (Choulant). This encompassing work enjoyed great success during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, particularly thanks to its numerous illustrations, as evidenced by its numerous reissues and translations between 1491 and 1547. The author of the Hortus Sanitatis remains unidentified, despite occasional misattribution to the Frankfurt physician Johann Wonnecke von Kaub (14301503), the author of the above mentioned Gart der Gesundheit. This first edition printed by J. Prüss is recognizable by the abbreviation "(o)Mnipote[n]tis eteri[que] dei: toti[us]" (sheet aii recto, second line), while in the second edition, which is otherwise mostly identical, the text reads "( "Mnipote[n]tis eteri[que] dei: totius". Drawing from established medieval encyclopedias like the Liber pandectarum medicinae omnia medicine simplicia continens by Matthaeus Silvaticus (14th century) and Vincent of Beauvais's Speculum naturale (13th century), the author crafted this compilation. While an An earlier Latin manuscript from 1477 containing the fundamental content of the Hortus sanitatis, initially considered a potential prototype for printing, it is now seen as an independent copy of a Latin manuscript from around the same time. Presented in a dual-column format, this work is structured into 5 sections delineating uncomplicated remedies used in healing various diseases: - "De Herbis," encompassing 530 chapters dedicated to herbs and plants - "De Animalibus", comprising 164 chapters concerning animals - terrestrial creatures - (humans are also included here, in the first chapter: "De homo"). - "De Avibus," consisting of 122 chapters discussing birds - "De Piscibus," containing 106 chapters focusing on fish and sea (swimming) creatures - "De Lapidibus," involving 144 chapters centered on semi-precious stones, ores, and minerals. - Additionally, it includes an appendix featuring a treatise on uroscopy (Tractatus de Urinis). Each chapter, organized into two columns, begins with an illustrative depiction. Subsequently, the text provides a broad overview of the pertinent simple drug, followed by a section titled "operationes," listing its effects on the human body. This constitutes a significant deviation from its earlier versions; it lies in the separate treatment of medicinal substances sourced from animals, stones, and metals, each given dedicated sections. This pioneering approach was later widely replicated across various works. The book is decorated with numerous woodcuts (approx. 1050 small ones and 3 full-page ones), some of them very interesting depictions of medicinal plants (for example, the illustration for Mandragora officinarum is a personified image of the plant, where the plant's trunk is depicted as a naked human body; the one of the plant name Narcissus - the daffodil has some human-like figures coming out of the flowers most likely a reference to the myth of Narcissus; the illustration for the Upas tree, thought to have some narcotic properties, shows two men laying under the tree, in someting akin to the sleep of death). Other interesting depictions include the Tree of Life, the unicorn and the mermaid. There are also woodcuts depicting scenes, sometimes of people practicing various professions or preparing butter, cheese, or bread, often highly imaginative images. Even though a lot of the woodcuts are come from the German Herbarius moguntinus, nearly one third of the herbal illustrations are new. the one before the chapter De Animalibus and the one that opens the last chapter Tractatus de Urinis. some pages with some minor ink lines/notes on the margins of the text. 6 leaves in the "De Animalibus" part (in the foliation with signature mark "F") most likely washed and hence slightly brighter in color. The same 6 leaves partly slightly stained. A complete, very well-preserved copy of this very important and richly illustrated incunabula. Very rare in this condition. You can see more pictures of the book on our own website. Hain Copinger 8941. GW13550. GoffH-487. Klebs 509.3. Scribe 4248. Schramm XX, Fig. 1495-1608. Proctor 1447. Pellechet 5751a-e. Brinkhus 1094. Collin 811. Gamper 126. Ohly Sack 1495. Rhodes 948. Hargreaves 58. 59. Madsen 1300. Mueller 385. Scheidegger-Tammaro 745. Voit H-071. Walsh212. 213. Choulant 62f. Scribe, Herbs, XXIV. bmc I, 124. BSB Ink H-389. CIBN H-295. CBB 2001. CBS 1984. CIH 1741. CIRH-51. IBE 2973. IDL 2405. IGI 4901. ISTC ih00487000. - - - Leather binding from the 17th century. Century [28.5 x 20 cm] with spine title: Tractat de herbis. With gold-plated front and back covers. Folio. 360 unnumbered sheets. Printed in two columns, register in 4 columns. With over 1050 woodcuts in the text [ca. 11 x 7 cm] and 3 full-page woodcuts. This very rare incunabulum was first published in 1491 by Jacob Meydenbach in Mainz (Hain 8940. 13549). Hortus Sanitatis is a very early natural history encyclopedia, a comprehensive work that explores numerous natural species and describes in detail their medicinal uses and methods of preparation. In contrast to its predecessors, the Latin Herbarius moguntinus (1484) and the German Gart der Gesundheit (1485) by Peter Schöffer, which mainly focused on herbs, the Hortus sanitatis deals with animals, birds, fish and also minerals (stones). Notably, it goes beyond real creatures and includes accounts of mythical creatures such as dragons, harpies, hydras, myrmecoleons, phoenixes, citrons, and Pegasus. It summarizes the entire late medieval knowledge this topic and is considered the most important natural history work of the Middle Ages (Choulant). This comprehensive work was written in the late 15th century. and early 16th It enjoyed great success in the 18th century, particularly thanks to its numerous illustrations, as evidenced by the numerous new editions and translations between 1491 and 1547. The author of the Hortus Sanitatis remains unknown, despite occasional misattributions to the Frankfurt physician Johann Wonnecke von Kaub (1430-1503), the author of the above-mentioned Garden of Health. This first edition, printed by J. Prüss, can be recognized by the abbreviation (o)Mnipote[n]tis eteri[que] dei: toti[us] (leaf aii recto, second line); otherwise both editions are largely identical. Based on established medieval encyclopedias such as the Liber pandectarum medicinae omnia Medicine simplicia Continens by Matthaeus Silvaticus (14th century). Century) and the Speculum naturale of Vincent of Beauvais (13th century). Century) the author has created this compilation. Furthermore, the text on uroscopy at the end of the Hortus sanitatis was taken from a widely circulated manuscript attributed to Zacharias de Feltris or Bartholomew of Montagna. While an earlier Latin manuscript from 1477 contains the basic contents of the Hortus sanitatis, which was initially considered a potential prototype for printing, it is now considered to be an independent copy of a Latin manuscript from around the same period. The work is divided into five sections describing remedies used to cure various diseases: - De Herbis with 530 chapters on herbs and plants - De Animalibus, consisting of 164 chapters on animals and land creatures (humans are also included here, in the first chapter: De homo). - De Avibus, consisting of 122 chapters about birds - De Piscibus with 106 chapters about fish and sea creatures (swimming) - De Lapidibus with 144 chapters about semi-precious stones, ores and minerals. - It also contains an appendix with a treatise on uroscopy (Tractatus de Urinis). Each chapter, divided into two columns, begins with a descriptive presentation. The text then provides a comprehensive overview of the simple drug in question, followed by a section entitled Operationes, which lists its effects on the human body. The separate treatment of Medicines and their effects, represents a significant departure from previous editions. For each plant, animal and stone, their respective healing effects are compiled in special sections entitled Operations. This groundbreaking approach was later widely used in various works. The book is illustrated with numerous woodcuts (ca. 1050 small and 3 full-page), some of which are very interesting representations of medicinal plants (e.g. the illustration for Mandragora officinarum is a personified image of the plant, where the plant... The trunk is depicted as a naked human body; the trunk of the plant name Narcissus the daffodil has some human-like figures protruding from the flowers most likely a reference to the myth of the daffodil; the illustration for the Upas tree, believed to have narcotic properties, shows two men lying under the tree, something like a death's sleep. Other interesting depictions are the tree of life, the unicorn and the mermaid. There are also woodcuts with scenes, sometimes of people practicing different professions or preparing butter, cheese or bread, often very imaginative images. Although many woodcuts come from the 'Herbarius moguntinus', almost a third of the herbal illustrations are new. Cover slightly rubbed, some pages with light staining on the outer edge, some pages with minor ink lines/annotations on the text margins. Some pages with small backed areas at the lower outer corners. Six leaves in the De Animalibus section (layer F), probably washed and therefore slightly lighter. The same 6 leaves partly slightly spotty. A complete, very well preserved copy of this very important and richly illustrated incunabula. Very rare in this condition. You can find more pictures of the work on our own website.

Tags: Natural Science encyclopedia Incunabula Incunabula Botany

Order number: 283606