First Editions. Together 4 vol. 8vo. Vol. I, 161 leaves; vol. II, 142 leaves; 6 folded engraved plates by Dom. Cagnoni; vol. I, 150 leaves; vol. II, 176 leaves, 3 folded engraved plates by Cagnoni.
Agassiz IV, 357, no. 18, 19.
Tiraboschi,
Dell’ Abate Lazzaro Spallanzi
[
sic
--
Ed.
] 18, 21.
These two works were separate publications, but were classed together by Jefferson in this and in his undated manuscript catalogue and in the 1815 Library of Congress catalogue. Jefferson mentioned them in a letter to Dr. Willard, written from Paris, March
24, 1789: “
in Italy, the works of Spallanzani on digestion, and generation, are valuable. tho perhaps too minute, & therefore tedious,
he has developed some useful truths, and his book is well worth attention. it is in 4. vol
(
~
s)
8
vo.
”
Lazzaro Spallanzani, 1729-1799, Italian man of science, was a native of Scandiano in Modena. He was one of the pioneers in experimental morphology.
[1034]
30
Insectorum theatrum Wottoni, Gesneri, Pennii, Moufeti.
fol.
1815 Catalogue, page 46. no. 36, as above,
p. fol.
MOFFETT,
Thomas.
Insectorvm sive Minimorum Animalium Theatrvm: Olim ab Edoardo Wottono. Conrado Gesnero. Thomaqve Pennio inchoatum: Tandem
Tho. Movfeti Londinâtis operâ sumptibus(´q); maximis concinnatum, auctum, perfectum: Et ad vivum expressis Iconibus suprà quingentis illustratum.
Londini: ex Officinâ typographicâ
Thom. Cotes,
1634.
QL463 .M93
First Edition. Folio. 170 leaves, woodcut of beehive, bees and insects on the title-page, numerous woodcut illustrations of butterflies
and of insects throughout the text, 4 pages of cuts at the end.
STC 17993.
Agassiz III, 631.
Hazlitt IV, 262.
Thomas Moffett (
Moufet or Muffet), 1553-1604, English physician and author. This work, originally completed in 1590, was partly compiled from the writings
of Edward Wotton, Conrad Gesner and Thomas Penny. Permission was twice obtained to print it during Moffett’s life time, but
delays occurred, and the manuscript was eventually published after the author’s death by Sir
Theodore Turquet de Mayerne. The large woodcut on page 98 of this work is the first picture of an American butterfly in a printed book.
Edward Wotton, 1492-1555, English physician and naturalist, is said to have been the first English physician to make a systematic study of natural history.
Conrad Gesner, 1516-1565, professor of Zurich, was acquainted with Wotton’s work, and noticed it in his own books.
Thomas Penny, d. 1589, English botanist, entomologist, and clergyman. He assisted Conrad Gesner and helped in the arranging of his plants and other collections after his death. Penny was acquainted with Moffett, who after the death of Penny acquired the drawings of butterflies made by Gesner.
