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an open book with illustrations of different types of animals on it
Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

1601 - Zoology – Herpetology
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Estimate €200 - €300
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Description
Zoology – Herpetology Siebold, Carl Theodor Ernst von *Observationes quaedam de Salamandris et Tritonibus*. With one engraved, folded plate. Berlin, Litteris Augusti Petschii, 1828. 4°. VI., 30 pp. Modern paperback. Biodiversity Heritage Library, Bibliography 4701. – With an autograph dedication from an unidentified Mr von Siebold to the zoologist Ludwig Georg Heinrich (“Lutz”) Heck (1892–1983), later Director of Berlin Zoological Garden. – A rare first independent publication by Carl Theodor Ernst von Siebold, who later became a prominent zoologist, anatomist and founder of scientific parasitology. Written in Latin, this treatise is regarded as his medical-zoological doctoral thesis and is devoted to salamanders and newts, in particular questions concerning their anatomy, development and systematic classification. It was produced within the context of the University of Berlin, where Siebold studied under, amongst others, the zoologist and anatomist Karl Asmund Rudolphi. The work belongs to the early phase of herpetology, which was increasingly grounded in anatomy and developmental biology. It centres on observations of caecilians (Salamandra and Triturus as understood at the time), whose metamorphic development and morphological characteristics were of particular significance for the zoological classification of the era. Siebold’s study exemplifies the transition from a primarily descriptive natural history to a zoology based on comparative anatomy. Carl Theodor Ernst von Siebold would later distinguish himself with works on the zoology of invertebrates and on parasitology; his Berlin doctoral thesis on salamanders and newts marks the beginning of his scientific career. – A fine copy. Biodiversity Heritage Library, bibliography 4701. – With a contemporary handwritten dedication from an unidentified Mr von Siebold to the zoologist Ludwig Georg Heinrich (‘Lutz’) Heck (1892–1983), later Director of the Berlin Zoological Garden. - A rare first separate publication by Carl Theodor Ernst von Siebold, who later became a distinguished zoologist and anatomist, and a founder of scientific parasitology. Written in Latin, the work is regarded as his medical-zoological dissertation and is devoted to salamanders and newts, with particular emphasis on their anatomy, development and systematic classification. It was produced within the academic milieu of the University of Berlin, where Siebold studied, amongst others, under the zoologist and anatomist Karl Asmund Rudolphi. The work belongs to the early period of herpetology’s development into a discipline increasingly grounded in anatomy and developmental biology. Its central subject is the observation of tailed amphibians—Salamandra and Triturus in their historical sense—whose metamorphic development and morphological features were of particular importance to contemporary zoological classification. Siebold’s study is an exemplary document of the transition from a predominantly descriptive natural history to a zoology oriented towards comparative anatomy. Carl Theodor Ernst von Siebold later gained renown for his work on the zoology of invertebrates and on parasitology; his Berlin dissertation on salamanders and newts marks the beginning of his scientific career. – A good copy. 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 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
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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