Viridariumm reformatum, seu regnum vegetabile, Das ist: Neu-eingerichtetes und vollständiges Kräuter-buch, Worinnen...

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Folio. Two volumes, original calf, spines in 6 compartments, richly gilt. Sole edition. I.) 3 leaves (dedication), 5 leaves (introduction), 2 schematic engravings, 584 pp., illustrated with 223 engraved botanical illustrations in text, 12 leaves (register in German, Latin, French & Italian). Bound with: Welling, Georg Opus Mago-Cabalisticum et Theologicum. Title, 3 leaves, 80 pp., illustrated with 10 engraved (of which 9 are hand colored) plates. II.) 1 leaf, 385 full page fine engraved plates depicting flowers and other plants. - The two volumes are complete with total 610 botanical illustrations by de Bry and Merian. Valentini shows in its herbal an attractive collection of botanical illustrations, combined with decorative baroque garden scenes, landscapes and views of villages. Each of these 223 hand colored engravings shows prominent in the foreground a plant combined with a decorative engraved background. The text contents a detailed description of the shown plant, as well similar species of it. Often also detailed described its medical value. Matthäus Merian published already in 1646 the work by Ludwig von Anhalt-Köthen: Der Fruchtbringenden Gesellschaft Nahmen... an emblematic book with very similar allegoric scenes. The second part consists of 385 full page hand colored engravings, of wich a part of the plates earlier were published in the book Florilegium renovatum et auctum by Johann Theodor de Bry at M. Merian 1641-47 in Frankfurt am Main. This book was illustrated with 176 plates. Johann Th. de Bry was the father in law of Matthäus Merian, who was married with Maria Magdalena de Bry. Matthäus Merian took over in 1623, after the death of de Bry, the business of the printing house of his father in law. Valentini enlarged this catalogue of plants to 383 numbered engravings with much more then 1000 images of flowers, herbs and various plants. There is existing the general opinion, that he took over the inheritance of the de Bry-Merian copper plates. Valentini was a Professor of medicine in Giessen in Germany and a collector of natural historic samples. Further he published in 1714 the Museum Museorum a descriptive book about cabinets of curiosities, which he knew and described also their contents. 2 volumes. A splendid example bound in original calf bindings of the period. The spines in six compartments, richly gilt. One of the most extensive illustrated botanical books in the early 18th century. Complete, printed on excellent paper in even imprints, further the excellent quality of the paper is remarkable in this copy. Throughout in excellent condition.

Hunt 447; Nissen BBI 2037; Pritzel 9666; De Belder 368