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196
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SERRES, Olivier de. Theatre de l'agriculture et mesnage des …
See original version (French)
196
-
SERRES, Olivier de. Theatre de l'agriculture et mesnage des …
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Voluntary lot
Description
SERRES, Olivier de. Theatre de l'agriculture et mesnage des champs d'Olivier de Serres, Seigneur du Pradel. A Paris, par Jamet Metayer imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, 1600. Fort in-folio (33 x 21 cm), (7) ff. including engraved title and preface, 1004 pp, (9) ff. for the index, 8 headbands and 16 wood-engraved figures in-text, lettering and endpapers. Contemporary tan basane, spine ribbed and decorated (binding very worn, top board and first 6 ff. unbound, scattered stains and foxing, title-frontispiece creased with small lack). Sought-after first edition of the very first treatise on agriculture. One of the most important texts in the history of agronomy and horticulture, dedicated to Henri IV, who made it one of his bedside books. Complete with the fine copper-engraved title-frontispiece in black: a porticoed temple bearing Henri IV on his throne, by "Mellari" (there are various spellings, cf. Thiebaud). This first edition is the finest of all (Thiébaud, 840). With 16 large woodcut vignettes in black, mainly illustrating garden beds. Divided into eight "places", each inaugurated by a finely engraved entablature on each subject, it details the duty of the "mesnager", the ploughing of grain land to obtain wheat of all kinds, the cultivation of vines (detailing the quality of the wines, the famous places, wine-growing techniques and care, and various types of beverage), sheep, hens, gardens (the longest and most detailed chapter), water and woods, and finally the use of food, the final chapter of the book being De la chasse et autres exercices honnestes du gentilhomme. There are many recipes, including a sort of treatise on jams. Only 3 entries in the CCFr. In French in the text 79. Vicaire, 788. Tchemerzine, V, 817. Missing from the Fritsch collection. GARDENS. GASTRONOMY. HUNTING.
See original version (French)
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