[Sixteenth-century book]. [Medicine; botany]. MATTIOLI (Pier - Lot 84

[Sixteenth-century book]. [Medicine; botany]. MATTIOLI (Pierandrea). Comments... on the six books of Ped. Dioscorides... reveuz et augmentés... par l'autheur mesme... avec certaines tables médicales... mis en françois... par M. Jean Des Moulins,... A Lyon, par Guill. Rouillé, 1579. Fort in-folio, [68] f., 852 p., [12 (of 14)] f., figs, contemporary binding in brown calf, of which only the spine survives, with 5 nerves, red title-piece, accompanied by a 17th c. binding in gilt vellum (title and first few ff. worn and reassembled, soiling, tear not missing on 6 ff...), 2 corners mack. in margin; table faded with mack. last 2 f. and penultimate incomplete; frequent transfers mainly of blue and green tints). Beautiful Lyon edition of this important treatise by the Italian physician and botanist Mattioli (1500-1577), who based his work and reputation on the development and adaptation to the tastes of his time of the work of the Greek botanist Dioscorides. It is distinguished by its abundant illustrations: richly framed title, medallion portrait of the author, and over 650 woodcut figures of plants and animals throughout the text. At the end of the work is a small treatise illustrated with "divers pourtraits de fourneaux et alembics pour distiller et tirer les eaux de toutes plantes..." (USTC 14756 and 37180; Baudrier X, 369; Brunet III, 1539).