Jean Ruel, 1536

RUEL, Jean (1479-1537). De natura stirpium. Paris: Simon de Colines, 1536.

First edition of "one of the handsomest books of its time" (Mortimer). Haskell Norman copy. Not only an important work of descriptive botany, this work is an outstanding piece of book design, representing "one of the first attempts to popularize botanical science" (Norman). It is based on the work of Theophrastus and Pliny, but with updates based on original research. The elaborate title, depicting an arbor overhung with grape vines over a fountain, and filled with flowering plants, has been attributed to Oronce Finé, and incorporates Colines’ ‘Tempus’ device in the lower right-hand corner. The book also uses several large blocks from the Tory alphabet. This copy has the corrected second state of title and conjugate index leaf. Adams R-872; Hunt 39; Mortimer 471; Norman 1857 (this copy); Schreiber Colines 143; Stillwell 693.

Folio (381 x 257mm). Elaborate woodcut title border, criblé initials (small wormhole (filled) touching top portion of title and blank margins of the following three leaves, a single wormhole in index touching a few letters). Contemporary vellum, later morocco label with incorrect title). Provenance: "Marci" inscription on final page – Haskell Norman (bookplate).