SCHEUERECK, Friedrich August

.

Unterhaltungen in der Naturgeschichte aller Arten Fische.

Leipzig, Johan, Heinrich, Kaven, 1791. Octavo, pp. (16 ), 375, and 22 folding plates with 69 handcoloured copper engravings of fishes. Contemporary half calf with marbled boards. Old skillful rebacking, preserving the original spine. Five raised bands and gilt-tooling, second compartement bearing the title: Naturgesch. Der Fische.

Scheureck's Naturgeschichte aller Fische is ONE OF THE VERY FIRST HANDCOLOURED FISH BOOKS.

Artist and engraver are unknown, but possibly it is "gezeichnet und gestochen von Friedrich August Scheuereck" himself. The images are made in a style similar to that of van Schonevelde (1624). The work has an extensive literature reference list including all Renaissance ichthyologists. The author follows the nomenclature of Linnaeus. Although written for schools the book is a skillful and interesting systematical work. Books by Scheuereck are very rare. It is not present in the libraries of Harvard and Yale University. Literature: Heinz Wegehaupt, Kinderbücher, 1851-1900. Provenance: Ex-libris of the Bibilotheca Tiliana and a tiny handwritten signature of a previous owner: A.G. Juel, 1843.

Price: € 1400,00