Milestones of Science Books

SWAMMERDAM, Jan.

Bybel der Natuure ... of Historie der Insecten. Verrykt met ontelbaare waarnemingen van nooit ontdekte zeldzaamheden in de natuur / Biblia Naturae; sive Historia Insectorum.

Leiden: Isaac Severinus, Boudewyn en Pieter van der Aa, 1737.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #003369

1737-1738. Two volumes. Folio (360 x 239 mm). [62], 1-85 [2] 86-362, 367-550; [4], 551-910, 124 pp. Two titles in each volume printed in red and black, text in two columns in Dutch and Latin, 53 engraved plates numbered I-LIII bound at end of vol. II, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Uniformly bound in contemporary full calf, each spine with 6 raised bands richly gilt in compartments and with gilt morocco lettering pieces (hinges and spine ends repaired, corners scuffed, boards rubbed and scratched). Text and plates generally crisp and clean with only very little age-toning and minor scattered spotting, small square excerpt of signature at foot of leaf E1 (general index) costing one letter verso. A very good copy printed on strong paper in original binding. ----

Dibner, Heralds of Science 191; Nissen ZBI 4055; Norman 2037 - FIRST EDITION. "This work was published by the physician Boerhaave 57 years after its author's death. This early collection of microscopical observations is based on Swammerdam's own collection of over 3000 species of insects. He gave up his medical training to devote himself to the study of minute anatomy, and so intense were his efforts that he injured his sight and health. To the advantages of the microscope he added his own manipulative skill and a series of fine dissecting instruments which he made under a magnifying glass. With Redi, he rejected spontaneous generation and proposed that the process of decay in organic matter was the result of living organisms" (Dibner).

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