1782,TOP BLOCH OBLONG FOLIO H/C RARE GADUS FISHES G2

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Title Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische Author /Artist Marcus Eliezer Bloch Date 1782 Sizes 10 " x 16" 1/2 (25,5 x 42 cm) Descri ption Numbered copper engraving. Beautiful original hand coloring. Names in Latin and German . First Edition Other plates Other Plates . "Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische" By Marcus Bloch Biography of the Artist. Marcus Elieser Bloch (24 March 1723 – 6 August 1799). Born in Anspach in 1723, Bloch was a German medical doctor and a prominent naturalist who practiced in Berlin. Born into a poor family , he devoted himself to the study of natural science and medicine being supported by some relatives. Like many other medical professionals of the 18 th Century, Bloch developed a passion for Natural History, focusing on ichthyology. Bloch, the first Jew to figure prominently in the history of biology, became one the most important ichthyologists of his century. He collected approximately 1500 specimens of fish including many new, previously unnamed species. This precious collection, collected over a period of 20 years, has survived almost in its entirety, at the “Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt Universität” in Berlin. "In the tradition of the great cabinet naturalists, Bloch developed his collection of specimens from local excursions, contacts in the marketplace and harbor, and correspondence. As his interest ranged beyond central Europe, he joined an existing network of scientific-scholarly contacts to inspire him to describe and figure the fishes of the then known world. In some cases, he accepted sources in lieu of actual specimens, particularly from father Plumier and Prince Maurits" (History in Service of Systematics, 1981 p.8 i.e. E.B. Wells. Bloch's Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische: A study) Bloch wrote several works and his “ 'Oeconomische Naturgeschichte der Fische ” is the most famous work on foreign and exotic fishes . Description of the w ork. We are pleased to offer a selection of prints from the rare first edition of " Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische " , published in Berlin between 1782 and 1795 . Based on the specimens in his own remarkable collection, Bloch began to publish this work at his own expense. The magnificent artwork on foreign and exotic fishes - noted for both its beauty and its scientific importance - garnered considerable interest and enthusiasm and he received much patronage. Many of the plates bear the name of the person at whose cost it was prepared. The text of the German edition was published in 4to and the plates are sometimes found separately in folio or folded in the middle and bound in with the quarto text. Bloch in the 'Nachricht' of the first volume of the German fishes says that it is up to the customer to decide to have the plates bound in folio or folded and added with the text. The plates are outstandingly coloured, and are heightened with gum arabic, some with a pearlescent silver pigment, some with gilt, silver, and bronze to reproduce the metallic sheen of fish scales. The plates are after a variety of artists and engravers (see Nissen): after Kruger, Jnr., Pater Plumier, Comte de Querhoent, Printz Motitz, by Ludwig Schmidt, A. F. Schmidt, Ferdinand Schmidt, G. Bodenekr and P. Haas. Each print is folio in size, measuring approximately 16" 1/2 by 10" inches (42 by 25,5 cm) in oblong 2°, with ample margins. Remarkable in particular is the exceptionally fine ORIGINAL hand colouring heightened with gold, silver, and bronze. Bibliography Reference: Nissen 'Schöne Fischbücher' 22; Nissen ZBI, 415 ================================================================================================ Credit Cards (by paypal). Shipping & Handling: Air mail... read more

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