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an open book with a picture of a snake and a snake on itan open book with illustrations of frogs and other animals on itan open book with a drawing of a frog on it ' s backan open book with a drawing of a lizard and a snake on itan old book with a brown leather cover on a white background
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1599 - Zoology – Herpetology
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Estimate €7,000 - €9,000
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Description
Zoology – Herpetology Rösel von Rosenhof and Christian Friedrich Carl Kleemann, August Johann Historia Naturalis Ranarum. – The Natural History of the Frogs of this Country, in which all their characteristics, but particularly their reproduction, are described in detail. With a preface by Mr Albrecht von Haller. With a hand-coloured frontispiece engraved by M. Tyroff, as well as two sets of the 24 engraved plates and 7 engraved head vignettes. Nuremberg, Fleischmann, 1758. (8) VIII, 115 (1) pp. Large folio. (Binding slightly bumped, spine renewed and original spine reattached, some scuffs on the binding restored, inner joints reinforced with canvas strips.) Nissen ZBI 3464. – Junk, Rara, pp. 162ff., Graesse VI, 146. – First edition, of great significance from both an artistic and a scientific perspective. This illustrated work, begun in 1753 and completed in 1758, is regarded as the most artistically significant work in the entire herpetological literature and simultaneously marks the beginning of scientific research into amphibians in Germany. August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof (1705–1759), a trained copperplate engraver and miniaturist from Nuremberg, had turned his attention to natural history observation after reading Maria Sibylla Merian’s works on metamorphosis and, from 1746, published the published the *Insecten-Belustigungen* before turning his attention to amphibians around 1750. The parallel Latin-German text describes all the species of frogs and toads known at that time in the Nuremberg area with remarkable accuracy in terms of morphology, mating behaviour and reproductive biology; several of the animals depicted, including Bufo calamita and Bufo fuscus, were later used as type specimens for their respective species. Rösel did not shy away from the meticulous depiction of dissected specimens, which he – stretched out in a manner reminiscent of crucifixion – coloured by hand down to the smallest detail. The preface was written by the polymath Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777), whose endorsement lent the work additional scientific weight. Following Rösel’s early death in 1759 – which prevented the publication of the subsequent volumes on caudates and lizards, as already announced on the title page – Christian Friedrich Carl Kleemann took over the continuation and completion of Rösel’s publication projects, which is why his name is inextricably linked to the complete work. The illustrations, on which six other artists worked alongside Rösel, rank among the finest of their kind in terms of the accuracy of their anatomical details. Rösel describes in detail the reproduction and metamorphosis – from spawn through the tadpole stage to the adult animal – as well as the anatomy and way of life of frogs and toads, thereby ushering in a new, strongly image-based phase in herpetology. Owing to the exceptional accuracy and artistic quality of the plates, the *Natural History of the Frogs of Germany* is still regarded today as one of the finest and most scientifically significant works on amphibians of the 18th century. With a hand-coloured frontispiece engraved by M. Tyroff, two sets of the 24 engraved plates, and 7 engraved headpieces. First edition, of great significance from both an artistic and a scientific point of view. This series of plates, begun in 1753 and completed in 1758, is regarded as the most artistically significant work in the entire herpetological literature and, at the same time, marks the beginning of scientific research into amphibians in Germany. August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof (1705–1759), a trained engraver and miniature painter from Nuremberg, had turned to the observation of natural history after reading Maria Sibylla Merian’s works on metamorphosis, publishing the *Insecten-Belustigungen* from 1746 onwards before turning his attention to amphibians around 1750. The parallel Latin-German text describes all the species of frogs and toads known at the time in the area around Nuremberg with remarkable precision regarding morphology, mating behaviour and reproductive biology; several of the animals depicted, including Bufo calamita and Bufo fuscus, were later used as type specimens for their respective species. In doing so, Rösel did not shy away from the meticulous depiction of dissected specimens, which he hand-coloured down to the smallest detail after pinning them out in a crucifixion-like pose. The preface was written by the polymath Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777), whose endorsement lent the work additional scientific authority. Following Rösel’s untimely death in 1759 – which prevented the publication of the follow-up volumes on salamanders and lizards already announced on the title page – Christian Friedrich Carl Kleemann took over the continuation and completion of Rösel’s ongoing publishing projects, which is why his name is inextricably linked with the work as a whole. The illustrations, on which six other artists collaborated alongside Rösel, rank amongst the finest of their kind in terms of the precision of their anatomical detail. Rösel describes in detail the reproduction, metamorphosis from egg to tadpole to adult, anatomy and behaviour of frogs and toads, thereby ushering in a new, strongly image-based phase in herpetology. Owing to the extraordinary precision and artistic quality of the plates, the *Natural History of the Frogs of Germany* is still regarded today as one of the most beautiful and scientifically significant works on amphibians of the eighteenth century. 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 work is subject to the standard tax regime. 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.
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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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