Historia naturalis ranarum nostratium [...]. Die natürliche Historie der Frösche hiesigen Landes worinnen alle Eigenschaften derselben sonderlich aber ihre Fortpflanzung umständlich beschrieben werden [...].

Folio: xvi-115-[1] pp.; 49 pl. (some browning and spotting in the text, some on the pl. not really affecting the pl. itself but for some margins, some tiny tears in some bl. margins of the pl.).

Contemp. calf, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands, red edges (rubbed, sm. repairs to corners, sides and spine).

First edition of the most beautiful work published on amphibians by the German naturalist, artist, miniature painter and engraver Rösel von Rosenhof (1705-1759). Illustrated with 8 engr. headpieces after Rösel, C. Harrich and J. J. Preissler., a fine hand-coloured engr. frontispiece after Rösel by M. Tyroff showing frogs in a pound surrounded by wild roses and 24 folding hand-coloured engr. pl. by and after Rösel, each accompanied by an anatomical key plate, showing the complete life cycle of all the then known species of frogs and toads indigenous to the locality of Nuremberg in great detail incl. internal anatomy, skeletons, embryological development, colpulation etc. This very early contribution to the literature of the batrachia is printed in both Latin and German, with a preface by A. von Haller in 2 col. in roman and Gothic.
Ref. Nissen (ZBI) 3464. - Wood 541. - BnF.
Prov. Johannes Berg (bookpl., stamps and ms. entry). - Oswald Weigel (bookseller's stamp).