BOOK, Botany: On Trees, 1538.

Charles Estienne:

Sylva. Frutetum. Collis.

Paris, apud Franciscum Stephanum (Francois Estienne), 1538. 8vo. 56 leaves. (NB: Lacking Indexes in Latin and French, 8 leaves.)

Attractive later quarter green morocco, flat spine richly gilt. Discrete repair to inner margin of first 5 leaves, first and last page very lightly soiled.

“Le titre porte la rare marque de Francois Estienne (un cep de vigne dans un trépied, avec l'inscription grecque et latine ‘Plus olei quam Vini’).”

Rare first (and only) edition of one of the first works written by the French doctor and printer Charles Estienne (1504-1564), third son of Henricus Stephanus (Henri Estienne), founder of the great printing house, and younger brother of Robert. The book is a treatise on trees, bushes, plants and herbs found growing in woods, in thickets and on hillsides. Published 6 years before the “De Historia stirpium” of Leonhard Fuchs and 16 years before the “Cruydt-boek” of Rembert Dodoens.

Renouard, Annales de l’imprimerie des Estienne, p. 97.

See description.