Otto Brunfels, Herbarum vivae eicones
(Johann Schott, Strassburg, 1530)
Written by the earliest of the German botanists, this work is a milestone in the history of botany. It is the first book on the subject to rely wholly on personal observation and has 135 original detailed woodcuts of plants taken directly from nature. Although Brunfel’s illustrations were a huge step forward the text is an uncritical compendium of older writers.
This copy was bought in Paris by Patrick Moray on the 20th January 1670. It has a 16th century calf binding with gilt Venetian decorations.
