De venatione, et natura animalium libri quinque. Quibus ex uniuerso antiquitatis penu triginta fere millia Auctorum oracula eduntur: & passim quae ad Temporum emendationem; Gentium transmigrationem: Philologorum: ac Vatum monimenta: […]

[24: dedications and indexes], 427, [1 blank] pp. Collation: [π]⁴ §-§§² †⁴ A-Ggg⁴ Hhh². With 56 woodcut illustrations in text, some full-page, including one at the half-title verso. Mira, I, 232; Mongitore, I, 29; Narbone, III, 100, 104, 106.

(bound with:)

IDEM. Variarum lectionum, sive De venatione heroum libri duo. Quibus ex universo antiquitatis penu duodecim fere millia auctorum oracula eduntur: & passim quae ad temporum emendationem; gentium transmigrationem […] Eduntur insuper ex scriptura venatorum acta venatorumque deorum mytologiae. Messina, heirs of Pietro Brea, 1650. [8], 299, [1 blank] pp. Collation: [π]⁴ A-Nn⁴ Oo⁶. Leaf [π]1 is a blank. Mira, I, 232; Mongitore, I, 28; Lipari, 200.

(bound with:)

IDEM. De natura, et solertia canum liber singularis. In quo sapientissimorum veterum oracula, animantium arcana medica & politica, ferarum mores, locorum, ac syderum, […] & sacra quaeque gentium, christianorumque exibentur, & illustrantur. Insuper loca omnia sacrae scripturae, quae ad canes spectant expenduntur. Palermo, Giuseppe Bisagni, 1653. [8], 347, [1 blank] pp. Collation: [π]⁴ A-Vv⁴ Xx². Woodcut vignette on the title page and 26 other woodcut illustrations of dogs in the text. Mira, I, 232; Souhart, 103; Schwedt, I, 112; Moncada, 592.

(bound with:)

IDEM. Liber secundus de natura piscium. In quo Platonis ac caeterorum philosophantium oracula: maris admiranda: piscium natura, virtutes, medicinae, monstra, et miracula ex probatissimis scriptoribus breviter expenduntur […] Palermo, Giuseppe Bisagni, 1653. [2], 552 pp. Collation: [π]² A-Zzz⁴. Large woodcut illustration of a fish on the title page. At p. 189 begins the second part. Mira, I, 232.

Four works in one volume (200x136 mm). Contemporary stiff vellum, inked title on spine, red edges. Inner gutter to the title leaf and corresponding leaf in the third work skillfully repaired, otherwise a very good, clean and genuine copy.

First editions of all four works, which were issued separately but conceived as parts of a general work on wild and domestic animals, as well as hunting and fishing. De natura et solertia canum is one of the first extensive monographs on hunting dogs and dogs in general. Often illustrated with naïve yet curious woodcuts, the works contain chapters on the beauty of animals, their depictions in temples of the Gentiles and Jews, animals sacred to the gods, animal sacrifices, the rationality of their souls, animal coats and sizes, the origins of hunting and fishing, human dominion over animals through hunting, animal feelings, circus fights, and animal medicine (cf. Ceresoli, pp. 158-159).