“Cet Ouvrage Très-Estimé”–Brunet;

A Superb Set in Citron Morocco

LEDERMÜLLER, Martin Frobenius.

Amusement Microscopique tant pour l'Esprit, que pour les Yeux...

Finely engraved frontis. & 158 plates, all finely hand-colored. Four vols. in two. 4 p.l., 126, [4] pp.; 138, [2] pp.; 4 p.l., 118, [2], 23, [1] pp.; 16 pp. Large 4to, fine slightly later 18th-cent. citron morocco, sides with gilt border, flat spines finely decorated in gilt, green morocco lettering pieces on spines, dentelles gilt, a.e.g. Nuremberg: A.W. Winterschmidt, 1764-66-68-75.

The finest copy I have seen in many years, finely bound in citron morocco, of the first edition in French of this famous and beautifully illustrated microscopical work.

Ledermüller (1719-69), a polymath, displayed a discerning interest in the art and science of natural history and especially in the newer science of microscopy, which made it possible to study the characteristics of a great variety of specimens. The fine engravings, made by Winterschmidt from the author’s drawings and beautifully hand-colored, depict a wide range of objects under magnification including insects, plants, fungi, minerals, cochineal, mites, hydra, mollusks, etc. Several microscopes and apparatus are also illustrated.

A very fine and handsome set. This set has the Traité phisique et microscopique de l’Asbeste (1775) which Brunet says “manque souvent.” It rarely appears with the other three volumes.

❧ Brunet, III, 918-19. Clay & Court, The History of the Microscope, pp. 154, 182, & 183.

Price: $25,000.00

Item ID: 5234