NATURAL HISTORY PATTERN BOOK. LATE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY OR LATER

Oblong 8vo (126 x 200mm.), 44 leaves illustrated with woodcuts (some recto and verso), hand-coloured, some with multilingual printed captions, early annotations throughout, old vellum, some loss (mostly marginal), soiled, repaired and laid down, vellum worn and stained, hole to upper cover, rebacked

Numerous early signatures, including: William Park, Phillip Pearse, and John C. Bellamy

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Early natural history pattern book, compiled by leaves from several publications of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The majority of the woodcuts are probably from an edition of Egenolff’s Herbaum, arborum, fruticum…animalium. The woodcuts show birds, beasts, frogs, insects and flowers for use as an educational aid. There are various seventeenth-century inscriptions, signatures and jokes throughout.