Metamorphosis Naturalis, ofte Historische Beschryvinghe Fanden Oirfpronk,aerd, eygenfchappen.....

Middelburgh: Jacques Fierens, Boeck-verkooper, inde Globe, 1662 A rare 1st edition copy of the first part of Johannes Goedaert's 3 part work on the development and metamorphosis of insects. This copy lacks the decorative title page but is otherwise complete with 63 pages of hand coloured plates. It has been collated against the 1662 copy held by the Getty Research Institute Library and matches apart from having 5 letters to the tie 5 pages from the Encomium - Getty has 3 letters. Goedaert (1617-1668) was born and lived in Middelburgh and was a painter and a naturalist - being one of the earliest to study entomology. His 3 part Metamorphosis (parts 2 and 3 published in 1667 and 1669) was the product of extensive fieldwork to collect live specimens, and detailed observation and recording of how they developed. The work was ground breaking and quickly translated from the original Dutch into French and Latin. This copy is newer brown cloth with title label and publication note in gilt. It is very clean and sound. Endpapers are newer with stamped letters at the top of the front pastedown. Contents: initial blank, rubricated title with pencil note to verso; Dedication 19 pp; By -Voeghsel 2pp; address to readers 4 pp; Notes 12 pp; Text pp 1-152 with 63 pp of plates; By-Voeghsel 13pp; Encomium 3 pp; final blank. Text with decorative initial capitals. The paper is very brown toned with occasional staining or marking - particularly at pp 95-104 and 117-124. Plates have some offsetting.