farfel_n03_165_211

The Library - 4th Series Vol. 2 (1921-22) p. 117-131.
Z 671 L69
P. H. Mattioli - Commentaries on the Materia Medica (1544)
The book represents the sum total of plant knowledge in
Italy at that period + was widely read. The earleir editions
were illust. with small woodcuts of no great artistic merit.
It was no doubt Mattioli's intention to publish his "editio
renovata" in Italy; but circumstances must have led him
to allow the majority of the large illust. of plants to be
used in the first placefor a Bohemian translation of
the 1st 4 books of his work. In 1554 Mattioli went to
Bohemia as physician to Archduke Ferdinand + lived in
[inserted] *born in Prauge in 1525-1600. [end inserted] Prague for many years. A Bohemian named * Hagek z Hagkw
undertook to translate the 1st 4 books fo the Commentaries
into Bohemia. The result was the 1562 ed. of the
Commentaries printed in Prague + illust. for the 1st time
with large woodcuts, (initial G.S. on over 100 blocks - removal in later ed.
2nd ed. (in German) - Prague 1563.
3rd ed. Valgrisi - Venice 1565.
Nissen Valgrisi used the enlarged cuts only in an Italian ed. of 1565 + a Latin one of 1570 + thenceforth employed the smaller figures again.
The only portions fo the book in Latin are the Epistola
nuncupatoria, a Privilega, the names of plants, + a
few verses at the end.
Printer - Georgius Melantrichus ab Aventino (printer
of a Bohemian ed. of the Bible in 1570)
printed in gothic type, + the Latin is roman.
20 unnumb. fol + 392 numb. fol. + 26 unnumb. fol.
Register: *6, xx6, xxx4, xxxx4, A-Z (incl. W)6, Aa-Zz (incl. Ww)6
Aaa-Www6, Xxx4.
Contains 589 of the large figures of plants, these being the
1st impressions of the bulk of the large plant figures
contained in the well known Valgrisi ed. of 1565 + later.
The 'first impressions' of the woodcuts were undoubtedly the
best (in this ed.); more os in the case, on account of the
fact that later ed. were printed on inferior paper. A system
of shading the drawings in this herbal by a very skilful use
of parallel lines, with occ. cross hatchings is employed + is often
used with great delicacy.