MATTHIOLI, (MATTHIOLUS, MATTIOLI), PIETRO ANDREA.

Kreutterbuch Desz Hochgelehrten unnd weitberühmten Herrn D. Petri Andreae Matthioli, Jetzt widerumb mit viel schönen neuwen Figuren, auch nützlichen Artzeneyen und andern guten stücken, zum andern mal auss sondern fleiss gemehret, und verfertigt Durch Iochimum Camerarium....Sampt dreyen wolgeordneten nützlichen Registern der Kreutter Lateinische und teutsche Namen, und dann die Artzneyen, dazu dieselbigen zu gebrauchen innhaltendt.

Franckfort am Mayn, (Colophon: Johan Feyrabendt), 1590. Folio. (40,5x26 cm.). Contemporary full pigskin over wood, 5 raised bands, panels stamped in blind on covers. 2 clasps. Binding professionally restored at edges and corners, but still with traces of use, some scratches and overall wear. End-papers renewed with old paper. Title-page printed in red and black inside a broad woodcut compartment depicting Dioscorides and the author and with printed mottos around ovals. Both the title-page and the large printer's device at the end are by Jost Amman. (10),460,(2),(35) pp. With more than 800 woodcuts of plants in the text and several illustrations of destilling apparatus in the section "Von Distillier un Brennoefen" (fol.456 ff.). A few leaves neatly repaired at corners and at outer margins. At foot of title an ink-erasement repaired. A few leaves with faint dampstainings to upper and right margins. A few scattered brownspots. Some margins slightly brownspotted. Leaves of index at end with some small wormholes. In general a well preserved copy, professionally restored where needed.

The scarce second German edition of the famous work "Commentarii a Dioscoride", with which Matthioli's name is chiefly linked. He was an excellent botanist and a renowned physician.

"Fundamental to the work's success is its conception and execution as a practical scientific treatise. It was intended for daily use by physicians, herbalists, and others, who could find descriptions and notes on medical plants and herbs, Greek and Latin names and synonyms, and the equivalents in other languages. The work made it possible to identify and compare plants and herbs with those mentioned by Dioscorides and also with those found in nature....Matthioli supported his work with new information, partly derived from his direct observations of plants and herbs and partly obtained from other authors....Matthioli's commentary on Dioscoride's text was aimed largely at the practical purpose of medicinal phytognosis and acquired intrinsic value both through the wealth of its descriptive details of each plant and through its accurate drawings. Mattioli may therefore be considered a member of the Vesalian school of morphological observation." (DSB IX, p.179-80).

Pritzel No 5990. - Nissen ZBI: 1311 (the larger illustrations are from Conrad Gessner, bought by Camerarius to his editions). - Hunt: 160.

Order-nr.: 43091