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George Christoph Petri von Hartenfelss.
Elephantographia curiosa, seu Elephanti descriptio. Erfurt, 1715.
4to. Engraved title, letterpress title printed in red and black, 28 engraved plates of which one is folding and one is half-page; minor dampstains to lower margin of some leaves. 18th-century boards, goldstamped title on label spine.
First edition of this early and important treatment of the elephant, offering a complete anatomy, ethology, and remarks on its use in war, religous observance, and cooking. The author (1633-1618), was a physician, and a professor of medecine at Erfurt, named count palatine by the Emperor Leopold. Rare with the full complement of fine plates which illustrate methods of capturing and domesticating elephants, as well as their use in war, commerce, sport, and entertainment. Both Nissen and McGill-Wood call for only 26 plates, Schwerdt calls for 27. McGill-Wood, p.518; Nissen 3149; Schwerdt, II, p.68; Hirsch IV, p. 546. |
