SCHEUCHZER (Johann Jacob). Physica sacra [...] Iconibus - Lot 215

SCHEUCHZER (Johann Jacob). Physica sacra [...] Iconibus Æneis illustrata procurante & sumtus suppeditante Johanne Andrea Pfeffel. Augsburg & Ulm, 1731-[1735]. 4 volumes in folio frontispiece, frontispiece portrait of the author, title, [20] ff, 272 pp, pl. I-CCXXV (i.e. 229 plates); title, pp. 273-514, pl. CCXXVI-CCCCXV (i.e. 190 plates); title, pp. 515-1054, pl. CCCCXVI-DXCIV (i.e. 182 plates); (1 f.), pp. 1055-1292, pl. DXCV-DCL, i.e. 105 plates [out of 156]. Text on two columns. Basane fauve racinée, spine with 4 nerfs fleuronné, t.p. in pink morocco. in pink morocco, double cold fillet on boards, red edges (18th century binding). Latin first edition of this emblematic book, one of the most beautiful produced in Augsburg in the 18th century. The work first appeared in German and Latin, then in French between 1732 and 1737. Johann Jacob Scheuchzer (1672-1733), doctor of medicine, botanist and professor of surgery in Zurich, is regarded as one of the founders of paleontology and paleobotany. He offers a veritable sacred natural history, reconciling modern scientific knowledge and the knowledge revealed by the Bible. Without the portrait of the engraver Johann Andreas PFEFFEL. The last volume ends p. 1292, the following pages up to 1536 are lacking, as are the fifty or so related plates. And this is not noticeable in the binding even covered. Pages 51 to 96 of Volume I, printed in Latin, have been replaced by unencrypted unencrypted pages of the German version, elegantly penciled in in the probably handwritten by a certain LIECHTENBERGER in the 18th century. by a certain LIECHTENBERGER, who affixed his handwritten bookplate to each volume. Volume I: pl. XLII restored tear without affecting the drawing. Volume II: small stain pl. CCLXXIX. Volume IV: title page of volume prior to the 1732 edition, rectified in volume IV, and restored. Some rare rings and marginal foxing, not serious. Binding rubbed, with a few defects. Uniform binding, however, of a rare edition. Attached is a set of 19th and 20th century drawings and engravings in the volumes (castles, China, portraits, religious images, etc.).