Description

LEDERMULLER, Martin Frobenius (1719-1769).

Mikroskopische Gemuths-und Augen-Ergotzung: Bestehend, in Ein hundert nach der Natur gezeichneten und mit Farben erleuchteten Kupfertafeln, Sammt deren Erklarung.

Gedruckt von Christian de Launoy, [Nurnberg], 1760-65

FIRST EDITION

3 volls. in-4° (25cm), 8,96,2+50 plates (vol.1) ; 8, 97-202,2+50 plates (vol. 2); 16,94+50 plates (vol. 3); 20+1 plate (suppl.); 8+1 plate (suppl.). Engraved frontespieces.

Contemporary calf, tight binding, gold tooling on spine. In modern slip case.

Ex libris Collection Nachet.

A very attractive copy of the most beautiful microscopical of all eighteenth century works. The 152 hand-coloured plates depict all kinds of specimens as witness using a very simple microscope. This work was issued in various states, documented in the bibliographic references.

Considered the most beautifully illustrated microscopical books of the eighteenth century, the plates illustrate in glorious colour all manner of natural objects, including seashells, salts, plants and flowers, insects, human blood and urine, etc.

Several microscopes and their component parts are also illustrated. The supplement at the end of the third part includes a splendid illustration of a house-fly.

The first part also includes a description of the coffee plant (pp. 189-194); the plant itself, \’\’with details of the blossom and fruit is illustrated on plate 97, and in microscopic detail on plate 98\’\’ (Hünersdorff).

Martin Frobenius Ledermueller was a follower of Leeuwenhoek. By 1749 he settled in Nuremberg. In the early period of microscopic analysis, and under the direction of Dr. Christoph Jacob Trew (1695-1769), Ledermuller applied the new scientific tool to the study of botany and produced a number of publications.

Brunet III, cols. 918-919  (\”highly estimated work\”); Horn & Schenkling 13091 and 3093; Hünersdorff, Coffee, pp. 862-63; Nissen, BBI 1156; Stafleu & Cowan 4288; V.d. Velde, Mikroscoop IV, p. 213; Clay & Court, the History of Microscope 154,182-83