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Largest assembly of natural history illustrations published before the 18th century

ALDROVANDI (ALDOVANDUS), Ulisse. [Opera omnia].
Bologna, 1599-1668. 13 volumes. Folio (35 x 24 cm). With engraved title-page to each volume, engraved full-page portrait of Aldrovandi in 3 volumes and several thousand woodcut illustrations in text, mostly after designs by J. Ligozzi and many full-page. Blind-tooled vellum (ca. 1645 & ca. 1670), with a large centrepiece on each board (the 11 volumes dated 1599-1642 from a single block; the 2 volumes dated 1648 & 1667 from a different block), the spines uniformly gold-tooled in the 18th-century. Full description
€ 150,000
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Systematically arranged shells

DENYS DE MONTFORT, Pierre. Conchyliogie systématique et classification méthodique des coquilles; ...
Paris, F. Schoell, 1808-1810. 2 volumes. 8vo. With 261 woodcut illustrations of shells (most nearly full-page). Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine, red ribbon marker. LXXXVII, [1], 409, [1]; [4], 676 pp. Full description
€ 1,950
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Rare science manual from Venlo

GEUNS, Petrus. Memoire sur les aimans. Ou description succinte de tout ce qui est necessaire pour la construction de toute sorte d'aiman imaginable; le changement de pôles suivant l'axe ou suivant les cotés de la pierre d'aiman. La construction & trempe des aiguilles de boussole. Une mémoire sur l'engrenage pour les horloger & autre artisans. Et pour les amateurs de l'histoire naturelle deux méthodes pour fermer les bocaux contre evaporation de l'esprit de vin.
Venlo, au dépens de l'Auteur, 1768. 8vo. With a folding engraved table and 5 folding engraved plates with technical illustrations and figures. Contemporary calf. XXIV, 143, [7] pp. Full description
€ 1,250
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Second, much enlarged edition of the first extensive repertory
of Greco-Roman rings with carved intaglio gems

GORLAEUS, Abraham. Dactyliotheca, seu annulorum sigillarium quorum apud Priscos tam Graecos quam Romanos usus, ex ferro, aere, argento & auro promptuarii ... collectis aliunde & ineditis & editis annulorum figuris auctior; cum explicationibus Jacobi Gronovii.
Leiden, Petrus van de Aa, 1695. 2 volumes. 4to. With 2 different engraved allegorical title-pages (reflecting the themes of rings and intaglio-carved gems), 2 letterpress title-pages in red and black with one of Van der Aas engraved allegorical devices (Minerva/Athena, books, a cock and Hercules/Heracles, with motto "studio et vigilantia"), a portrait of the author by Jacques de Gheyn with a calligraphic verse by Hugo de Groot below, 138 engraved plates: 196 numbered illustrations of ancient rings with carved gems shown at actual size on 101 engraved plates, and 148 numbered illustrations of carved gems alone on 37 engraved plates). Contemporary limp vellum, manuscript title on spine. [22], 28, [16], 16 pp. plus 109 plates; 64, 32 pp. plus 173 plates. Full description
€ 2,950
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A fundamental book on Egypt: the first illustrated catalogue of the first Egyptian Museum, with 40 original photographic prints

MARIETTE-BEY, Auguste. Album du musée du Boulaq comprenant quarante planches photographiées par MM. Delié et Béchard, avec un texte explicatif rédigé par Auguste Mariette-Bey.
Cairo, Mourès & Cie, 1872. Folio. With 40 original, albumen photographic prints (ca. 24.5 x 18 cm) on stiff paperboard mounted on hinges. Original publishers half brown morocco, blind stamped cloth over boards, with title and figures in gold, gilt edges. [3], [42] ll. plus 40 mounted photographic prints. Full description
€ 35,000
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Dutch rulers from the 15th and 16th centuries, with ca. 1000 engravings of coins and medals

MIERIS, Frans van. Histori der Nederlandsche vorsten, uit de huizen van Beijere, Borgonje, en Oostenryk; welken, sedert de regeering van Albert, Graaf van Holland, tot den dood van Keizer Karel den Vyfden, het hooggezag aldaar gevoerd hebben.
The Hague, Pieter de Hondt, 1732-1735. 3 volumes. Large folio (41 x 26.5 cm). With an engraved dedication page by Jan Wandelaar, a number of engraved vignettes and ca. 1000 engraved reproductions of both sides of coins and medals. Volume 1 with 2 letterpress folding genealogical tables. Lacking the frontispiece by Bernard Picart. Modern red half morocco. [32], 466, [107]; [8], 484, 56; [4], 446, [58] pp. Full description
€ 1,000
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In search of curiosities in the West Indies, Africa, and the Holy Land

MOCQUET, Jean. De grote nieuw-bereisde wereld: begrypende zes reizen, zo na Lybien, d'Eilanden van Kanarien en Barbaryen; stroom der Amazonen, Karipouzen en Karibanen; na Marocco; Moren-Land of Ethiopien, Mozambique en Goa; als mede na Syrien en een zeer nauwkeurige beschrijvinge van't Heilig Land ... Den tweden druk.
Leeuwarden, Jan Klassen (colophon: printed by Meindert Injema), 1717. 4to. With an engraved title-page, 3 etched plates, and some woodcut decorated initials and tail pieces. Contemporary vellum, later endpapers. [19], [1 blank], 195, [1 blank] pp. Full description
€ 1,950
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60 splendid plates of East Indian shellfish, crustaceans and other marine specimens

RUMPHIUS, Georg Everhard. d'Amboinsche rariteitkamer, behelzende eene beschryvinge van aleerhande zoo weeke als harde schaalvisschen, te weete raare krabben, kreeften, en diergelyke zeedieren, als mede allerhande hoorntjes en schulpen, die men in d'Amboinsche zee vindt: daar benevens zommigen mineraalen, gesteenten, en soorten van aarde, die in d'Amboinsche, en zommige omleggende eilanden gevonden worden.
Amsterdam, Jan Roman de jonge, 1741. Royal folio (44 x 27.5 cm). With engraved title-page, engraved author's portrait, 60 engraved plates and 5 engraved vignettes. Contemporary red half roan (sheepskin). [24], 340, [43], [1 blank] pp. Full description
€ 8,500
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Ruysch's anatomical specimen: "The eighth wonder of the world"

RUYSCH, Frederik. Alle de ontleed- genees- en heelkundige werken. Meerendeels in 't Nederduyts vertaalt door Ysbrand Gysbert Arlebout.
Amsterdam, Janssoons van Waesberge, 1744. 3 volumes. Large 4to. Engraved allegorical frontispiece, 3 titles in red & black, engraved portrait of Ruysch designed by I. Wandelaar and executed by D. Hoogstraten, 7 engraved illustrations in text, 2 woodcut illustrations in text and 133 engraved folding plates with anatomical designs and anatomical specimen. Contemporary marbled calf, spines ribbed and gilt with red-morocco title-labels. [4], 1280, [184] pp. Full description
€ 17,500
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Descriptions of 5 exotic animals from the cabinet of Schlosser, with striking coloured plates

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. Full description
€ 7,500
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