Mattioli

     One of the very early Italian naturalists / botanists was Pietro Andrea Gregorio Mattioli.  Born in Siena, Italy in 1500, he studied medicine and, in 1523, received his medical degree.  During his medical career, Mattioli served as physician to the Holy Roman Emperors Ferdinand I and Maximilian II.  In 1544, Mattioli published Di Pedacio Dioscoride Anazarbeo Libri Cinque.  This was an Italian translation, with critical commentary, of Dioscoride's classical First Century Greek herbal.  This work served as one of the bases for the development of modern botany.  In 1544, Mattioli published a Latin translation of his work and, circa 1558, a German version of this work was published, examples of which we offer below.  Mattioli died in 1577.  His very detailed descriptions of each Genus of plant are illustrated by woodcut pictures.  Normally a very primitive and coarse medium, these woodcut representations of plants are surprisingly delicate and detailed.  Each page of text measures 13" by 8".  The woodcut illustrations, set within the German text,  measure 5 1/2" by 3" for a single plant, and 5 1/2" by 6 1/2" if two plants or herbs are shown.  The laid paper used by Mattioli is considerably time-toned.  A faint waterstain on the top left and right clear margins does not detract from the overall charm of these early botanical prints. There are nicks along the left side where they were sewn into the volume.   These are all priced at $65 each.