In-folio (35,2 x 22 cm), [viii]- 502- [104] pp, title printed in red and black, copper printer's device on title page. Illustr. (complete) with 71 zoological and botanical woodcuts (various sizes) in text by Christoffel Jegher who extensively worked for Rubens. Depicted are exotic animals and plants such as a vicuña, a leopard, a porcupine, an opossum, an armadillo, a coconut tree etc. Foxing, general browning (as usual). Some water stains at the last lvs. Large woodcut compass device on last page. Orig. vellum binding (parts of back broken), heraldic bookplate F.A. Marshall
"First and only edition of this remarkable work on natural history by the Spanish Jesuit, mystic and naturalist E.J. Nieremberg (1595-1658). ""The greater part of this work relates to the natural history of Mexico, or New Spain. It also contains some particulars relative to Mexico before its conquest"" (Sabin). Important and encyclopedic natural history, devoted for the most part to the flora and fauna of the New World and particularly Mexico. There had been earlier accounts of the natural history of the New World, mostly in passages of travel books, but this was the first attempt to order them and can properly be described as the first American Natural History. Ref. Nissen ZBI 2974; Krivatsy 8313; Sabin 55268; Wellcome 4546"
