Milestones of Science Books

GOEDAERDT, Joannes.

Metamorphosis naturalis ofte historische beschryvinghe vanden oirspronck, aerd, eygenschappen ende vreemde veranderinghen der wormen, rupsen, maeden, vliegen, witjens,byen, motte ende dierghelijcke dierkens meer ; niet uyt eenighe boecken, maer alleenelijck door eygen ervarentheyd uytgevonden, beschreven, ende na de konst afgeteyckent.

Middelburgh: Jacobum Fierensium, 1662.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Item #003681

[1662-1669]. Three parts in three volumes. 8vo (148 x 93 mm). [40], 152, [16]; [24], 288, [16]; [16], 208pp. A total of 154 engraved plates on 126 sheets. First and second vol. with additional engraved title in Latin (lacking those in 3rd volume), letterpress title of vol. I printed in red and black; engraved initials and title-page vignettes. Bound without engraved portrait in vol. II found in a few copies. Uniformly bound in 18th century mottled calf, spines with 4 raised bands, gilt-lettered morocco labels and gilt tooling, red-dyed edges, original endpapers. Worm track to lower margin of about one third of vol. I affecting one letter of title, very little browning of text and plates (title of vol. III a bit stronger), occasional minor spotting and staining. Provenance: collection of Roman Vishniac, Russian-American biologist, photographer and pioneer in photomicroscopy.
Vol. I: Metamorphosis Naturalis, [Deel 1], [1662]. [40], 152, [16] pp. Signatures: (a)⁸ (b)⁴ (c)⁸ A-I⁸ K⁴ [a]⁸. 80 engraved plates (of which 79 plates with Roman numbers, final unnumbered) on 63 sheets. With the final unnumbered leaf with the verses by Jones.
Vol. II. Metamorphosis Naturalis, . . ., Het Tweede Deel, [1664]. [24], 288, [16] pp. Signatures: a⁸ b⁴ a-s⁸ aa-bb⁴. 51 numbered engraved plates on 42 sheets. Small dampstain to pl. 29 and 30 and 2 text leaves.
Vol. III. Metamorphosis Naturalis, . . ., Het derde en laetste Deel, [1669]. [16], 1-54, [2], 55-208 pp. Signatures: a⁸ A-N⁸. 23 engraved plates (numbered A to Y) on 21 sheets (2 folding, two plates numbered N). Unsigned and unnumbered leaf inserted between D3 and D4. Pen trials on p. 185 and 193, small dampstain to fore-margin of final two gatherings, plate C slightly shaved at fore-margin.

Johannes Goedaert (1617-1668) was a famous Dutch landscape and flower painter who lived all his life in Middelburg. He was one of the earliest authors to write about entomology, and one of the first to write about the insects of the Netherlands. He based his entomological discussions entirely on first-hand observation rather than paraphrasing and citing his predecessors. Vol. I is the second edition, (first 1660) with text corrections and a poem by Jones added. Vol. III includes material found among the author's papers after his death. It was edited by Johannes de Mey with a dedication signed Clara de Bock (the author's widow).
Bibliography: Landwehr, Dutch books, p.24f.; Horn/ Schenkling 8017; Nissen, ZBI 1603; BMN II, p.215. - Visit our website to see more images!

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