BODDAERT, Pieter (1730-1796); Johannes Oosterdijk Schacht; Johann Albert Schlosser (d. 1769)

[Frog] [Wunderkammer] Brief van Pieter Boddaert . . . aan den zeer weledelen hooggeleerden heere Johannes Oosterdyk Schacht .. . behelzende eene naauwkeurige beschrijving, en naar het leven vervaardigde afbeelding, van den twee-koleurigen kikvorsch . . . Johannes Albertus Schlosser [IV. Pieter Boddaert over den twee-koleurigen kikvorsch / Petrus Boddaert de rana bicolore]

Te Amsterdam: By M. Magérus, Boekverkooper, MDCCLXXII [1772]. Stiff Wrappers. First and only edition of Boddaert’s description of the nocturnal giant leaf frog (a native of the Amazonian rain forest that produces a poison traditionally used as medicine) from the Schlosser natural history cabinet, the first monograph on (and first illustrations of) this species. Demy 4to (283 x 221mm): 48pp, printed on heavy paper in Dutch and Latin on facing pages, with three folding engraved plates. Bound in recent stiff marbled wrappers, printed paper label to front cover, edges speckled green. An excellent example, virtually pristine. Nissen ZBI 435. Fine. Item #BB2508

Fourth in a series of five letters often bound together (De lacerta amboinensi, by J. A. Schlosser, and three others (numbered) by Boddaert: De Chaetodonte argo (1770); de Testudine cartilaginea (1770), and De chaetodonte dicantho (1772). Johann Albert Schlosser (d. 1769) was an Amsterdam physician, member of the Royal Society in London, and collector who assembled a fine natural history cabinet. After his death, Boddaert published four reports (including this and one on the freshwater Southeast Asian soft-shell turtle, which we also have on offer) on zoological specimens from Schlosser's collection, while also preparing Schlosser’s cabinet for auction. As was customary, each publications was addressed to a colleague, in this case to Johannes Oosterdyk Schacht, a Dutch physician. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Price: $649.00