SCHLOSSER, Johan Albert.
Epistola ad ... Ferdinandum Dejean, ... de Lacerta Amboinensi. | Brief ... aan ... Ferdinand Dejean, ... Behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving der Amboinsche haagdis.
Amsterdam, for the author, 1768. With a folding engraved plate of the Amboinese lizard in two copies, one coloured by a contemporary hand.
With:
(2) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... Johannem Burmannum, ... De Chaetodonte argo. | Brief ... aan Johannes Burmannus, ... Behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving van den gevlakten klipvisch.
Amsterdam, Cornelius van Tongerlo, 1770. With a folding engraved plate, coloured by a contemporary hand.
(3) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... W. Roëll, ... De Testudine cartilaginea. | Brief ... aan ... W. Roëll, ... Behelzende eene naaukeurige beschrijving van de kraakbeenige schildpad.
Amsterdam, Cornelius van Tongerlo, 1770. With a folding engraved plate, coloured by a contemporary hand.
(4) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... Johannem Oosterdyk Schacht, ... De Rana bicolore. | Brief ... aan .. Johannes Oosterdyk Schacht, behelzende eene naaukeurige beschrijving van den twee-koleurige kikvorsch.
Amsterdam, M. Magerum, 1772. With 3 folding engraved plates, coloured by a contemporary hand.
(5) BODDAERT, Petrus. Epistola ad ... Hier. Dav. Gaubium, ... De Chaetodonte diacantho. | Brief ... aan ... Hieronimus David Gaubius, ... behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving van den tweedoornigen klipvisch.
Amsterdam, M. Magerum, 1772. With a folding engraved plate, coloured by a contemporary hand.
5 works in 1 volume. Large 4to (31 x 25.5 cm). Contemporary half calf. [2], 18 ll.; [4], 43, [1]; [4], 39, [1]; 48; 43, [1] pp.
€ 7,500
First editions of five letters elaborately describing five exotic animals. They were clearly intended to form a set, since the half-titles are numbered and the format and layout match. With 8 striking engraved folding plates, including 7 beautifully coloured by hand. The first letter is written by the Dutch physician and naturalist Johan Albert Schlosser, the other four are by Petrus Boddaert, describing animals from Schlossers collection. After his death in 1769 his large zoological cabinet apparently came into the hands of Boddaert. All letters are bilingual, with text in Dutch and Latin on facing pages.
Ad 1: Scientific description of the Hydrosaurus amboinensis, a lizard sometimes more than a meter long.
Ad 2: Description of the Chaetodon agro, a tropical fish in the family of the angelfish or butterfly fish.
Ad 3: Description of the Testudine cartilaginea, or the Asiatic softshell turtle.
Ad 4: Description of the Rana bicolore, a frog found in the Amazon basin.
Ad 5: Description of the Chaetodon diacantho, a tropical fish in the family of the angelfish or butterfly fish.
Foot of the spine slightly chipped, but otherwise in very good condition, printed on heavy paper and only slightly trimmed, leaving generous margins. Nissen, ZBI 433-436 & 3689; cf. Smit, Hendrik Engels alphabetical list of Dutch zoological cabinets and menageries 1355.
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