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1598 - Zoology – Herpetology
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Estimate €450 - €600
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Description
Zoology – Herpetology Ranzani, Camillo De chamaeleontibus. With two lithographic plates. Bologna, Emygidius ab Ulmo Tiocchi, 1837. 26 pp. Contemporary half-leather with hand-written label on the cover (worn and scuffed). Adler III, 114. – Not listed in Crane and Nissen. – Only one copy in OCLC (Musée national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris). – First edition of the significant herpetological treatise by the Italian naturalist, zoologist and clergyman Camillo Ranzani. Written in Latin, this treatise is devoted to chameleons and ranks among the early monographic works that treat this extraordinary group of reptiles not merely descriptively, but from systematic, anatomical and historical-scientific perspectives. Ranzani examines the place of chameleons within herpetology, the traditionally recognised species and their classification, as well as the characteristic features of these animals. In doing so, he critically evaluates the older zoological literature and organises the previously somewhat inconsistent data into a systematic framework. Of particular interest is the combination of natural observation, comparative anatomy and taxonomic discussion, which was characteristic of scientific research in the first half of the 19th century. Even in later specialist literature, Ranzani’s treatise is highlighted as a work that brought together the historical record on the genus. Camillo Ranzani was Director of the Natural History Museum in Bologna for almost four decades, from 1803 to 1841. His scientific work spanned broad areas of zoology; he published studies on reptiles, fish and mammals, whilst also serving as a university lecturer and a member of the Academy. An example of Ranzani’s scientific approach: since antiquity, chameleons had been the subject of accounts—some of them legendary—due to their colour-changing ability, their striking tongues and their specialised feet. A treatise such as Ranzani’s *De chamaeleontibus* represents the transition from such traditional accounts of natural history to a source-critical, comparative-systematic zoology: earlier accounts are collected, verified and made usable for scientific classification. - A stained copy from the Amsterdam Animal Physiology Laboratory, bearing its stamp; the laboratory was dissolved 70 years ago. - Only minimally stained or browned. - Very rare. Zoology. – Herpetology. – With two lithographic plates. Bologna, Emygidius ab Ulmo Tiocchi, 1837. 26 pp. Contemporary half calf (rubbed and scuffed). First edition of this important herpetological treatise by the Italian naturalist, zoologist and clergyman Camillo Ranzani. Written in Latin, the work is devoted to chameleons and ranks among the early monographic studies to examine this remarkable group of reptiles not merely descriptively, but from systematic, anatomical and historiographical perspectives. Ranzani discusses the place of chameleons within reptile studies, the species known at the time and their classification, as well as the animals’ characteristic features. He critically evaluates earlier zoological literature and brings together the hitherto partly inconsistent accounts within a systematic framework. Of particular interest is the combination of natural observation, comparative anatomy and taxonomic discussion, characteristic of scientific research in the first half of the nineteenth century. Subsequent specialist literature has likewise highlighted Ranzani’s treatise as a work that brought together the historical record relating to the genus. For almost four decades, from 1803 until 1841, Camillo Ranzani served as director of the Natural History Museum in Bologna. His scientific work spanned a wide range of zoological fields; he published studies on reptiles, fish and mammals, and was active both as a university lecturer and as a member of the academy. Ranzani’s scientific approach can be illustrated by the example of chameleons themselves. Since antiquity, their ability to change colour, their conspicuous tongue and their specialised feet had made them the subject of accounts that were, in part, legendary. A treatise such as Ranzani’s *De chamaeleontibus* represents the transition from such traditional natural histories to source-critical, comparative and systematic zoology: earlier accounts were collected, scrutinised and made suitable for scientific classification. - Duplicate copy from the Animal Physiology Laboratory, Amsterdam, bearing its stamp; the institution was dissolved 70 years ago. - Only slightly stained or discoloured. - Very rare. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to standard taxation. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
See original version (German)
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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