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an old book with a drawing of a large animal on it ' s coveran old book sitting on top of a white surfacean old book with a picture of a rooster on ita drawing of a bird sitting on a rockan old book with a drawing of a cheetah sitting on top of a rockan old book with a drawing of a map on itan old book with a map of a town on itan open book with a drawing of a giraffe on itan open book with a drawing of a chamelon sitting on a tree branchan open book with a drawing of a dragon on it
Premium Maître Paul PASTAUD

655 - BELON (Pierre). Observations on Various Curiosities and Memo…
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Estimate €1,500 - €2,000
Sale commission
Description
BELON (Pierre). Observations on Various Curiosities and Memorable Events Found in Greece, Asia, Judea, Egypt, Arabia and Other Foreign Lands, Compiled in Three Books by Pierre Belon of Le Mans [...] Paris, Guillaume Cavellat, 1553. 3 books in one small quarto volume (210 x 153 mm), continuous pagination [12]-210-[2] ff. Marbled calfskin, decorated ribbed spine, title page in red marbling (18th-century binding). Some repairs to the binding, worn joints. First edition, featuring the bookseller’s mark on the title pages and repeated full-page in the colophon, with 34 wood-engraved illustrations in the text, mostly on natural history, including several maps (such as Alexandria and the Bosporus Strait). A few rare small foxing spots or slight soiling. A very fine copy. Pierre Belon (of Le Mans), 1517–1564, travelled through the Levant between 1546 and 1549. He visited Greece, Turkey, Egypt – where he explored Alexandria and Cairo – Judea, Arabia and Palestine via the Isthmus of Suez. This exceptional journey enabled Belon to bring back a wealth of observations on the natural history and customs of the local inhabitants. It was one of the first naturalist expeditions in history. Pierre Belon, a naturalist, was one of the greatest scientists of the 16th century. This man, whose thinking was far ahead of his time, attempted to classify species and sketched out studies in comparative anatomy that were unimaginable at the time. Originally an apothecary, he also took an interest in botany and made the most of his journey to the Levant to analyse medicinal plants. We also owe him the introduction to France of the cork oak, the cedar, the holm oak, the Judas tree, the jujube tree, the pistachio tree, the oriental juniper and the myrtle. Handwritten bookplate from the period by F. Percheron. Bookplate bearing the seal of Paul Chapuy, mining engineer.
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About the sale MONTIGNAC – 31st BOOK SALE – Day 2 of 4 – Nos. 550 to 1084
Auction location
Auction time 08/20/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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