Edward Topsell (1572-1625) - photo 1
Edward Topsell (1572-1625) - photo 2
Edward Topsell (1572-1625) - photo 3
Edward Topsell (1572-1625) - photo 4
Edward Topsell (1572-1625) - photo 5
Edward Topsell (1572-1625) - photo 6

Edward Topsell (1572-1625)

Lot 153
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 7 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 470157
Lot 153 | Edward Topsell (1572-1625)
Estimate value
£ 7 000 – 10 000
Edward Topsell (1572-1625)

The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes. 1607

TOPSELL, Edward (1572-1625). The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes ... collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner. London: William Jaggard, 1607 [With:] – The Historie of Serpents. London: William Jaggard, 1608.



First edition, issue with the gorgon on title of Foure-Footed Beastes. These two works are the first of Topsell's translations from Gesner's Historiae animalium. Topsell was a Church of England clergyman who viewed the study of nature as a spiritual exercise, and in his dedication to Richard Neile, Dean of Westminster, stresses that his work is suitable sabbath reading. Both books derive almost entirely from Gesner's works of some fifty years earlier, and the woodcut illustrations are almost exact copies of those used by Gesner. The first word of the title is xylographic. Nissen ZBI 4145 and 4146; Wood p. 599; STC 24123; Wellisch 23/24.7 and 27.4.



Two works in one volume, folio (334 x 223mm). Preliminary blanks [A1] to both works and final blank [3Y8] to first work present. Woodcuts on titles and in the text, some full-page (first work: small marginal tears to B1, H3, gathering 3D and leaf 2X3, this latter just into text but without loss of letters, 150mm closed tear to B5 with old tape repair on verso just into text, H4-5 with tiny marginal rust mark with associated hole, K2 trimmed affecting head of giraffe on verso, 3M3 with small marginal loss to corner, final blank torn and soiled; second work: light soiling to extreme margin of fore-edge of H5v, tear associated with paper flaw on L3 into text but with loss to a couple of letters and repaired with old paper on verso, very short marginal tear to V4, tiny marginal rust spot and associated hole to 2H1-2). Contemporary calf, covers with central panel formed by single gilt fillet with small rosette corner tools, enclosing ?later gilt arabesque (rebacked preserving original morocco lettering piece, extremities rubbed).

Place of origin:Northern Europe
Auction house category:Books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2020 – 09.12.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.