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THEVET, André (1502-1590). Les singularitez de la

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Antwerp: Christopher Plantin, 1558. 8vo (160 x 98 mm). Woodcut device of hand and compass on title, 41 woodcuts in text after the school of Jean Cousin, Jean Goujon, and Germain Pilon reprinted from the earlier French edition, numerous woodcut decorative initials. 16th century calf, sides ruled in gilt, central device gilt-stamped on covers, rebacked; half morocco slipcase. Condition: title and following leaf spotted, some light marginal scattered spotting throughout; scuffed, with old restoration to corners. Acquisition: purchased from William Reese Company (1998), $19,250 a primary work on brazilian ethnography and history of tobacco, the work also contains the second French account of Canada following Cartier's of 1545. This is the Plantin edition, published the same year as the second issue Paris edition (see preceding lot). The Brinley catalogue notes this edition as "very rare", and 7 copies have been offered at auction in the last 20 years. Thevet, a Franciscian friar, accompanied the Villegagnon expedition to Brazil in 1555, a voyage undertaken to found a French colony. He gives an interesting account of flora and fauna and native customs, including a description of syphilis and its cure through boiling certrain bark. The woodcuts depict native plants and Indian customs (a woodcut of a native smoking a cigar is on O3) as well many gruesome illustrations of Indian warfare. the illustrations are amongst the earliest of the new world and in their execution and subjects can be seen to have been a great influence on the later work of de Bry, especially in some of the more arresting images such as depictions of human sacrifice and cannibalism. Though printed in reverse and smaller than the earlier French edition, they are well executed, depicting potatoes, parrots, pineapples, hammocks and other curiosities of the New World. Borba de Moraes 2:304; Church 108; European Americana 558/41; Fairfax Murray French 537; Lande 834; Sabin 95340; Streeter Sale 1:21.

AE Footnotes [21]

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