Mattioli, Pietro Andrea Gregorio [Matthioli, Mattiolus] - Commentarij in sex libros Pedacij Dioscoridis Anazarbei de Medica materia - 1570

Venetiis, Valgrisiana, 1570. Folio. 1132 pp. (956 numbered); over one thousand woodcuts showing plants, animals and distillation equipment. [COMPLETE].
Near contemporary full calf. Spine with five raised bands. Edges red.
Published during his lifetime, in Venice in 1570, this is a rare early, expanded edition of this wonderfully illustrated and influential work by the Siennese naturalist, botanist and medical doctor, Pietro Andrea Gregorio Mattioli (1501-1577) or Matthioli.
This is his most important work, a commentary on the medicinal plants of the ancient Greek authority, Pedanios Dioscorides. It was first published in 1544 (with fewer illustrations) and later translated into several languages. It went into thirteen editions in his lifetime. The total number of pages is 1132 (956 numbered), containing ca. 935 beautiful, detailed woodcuts showing plants, and another 85 fine woodcuts showing various animals - both wild and domesticated. All these amazing illustrations catch the essential features of the plant or animal depicted. In addition, there are several fine woodcuts showing the process of distillation.
Copies in (near) contemporary bindings, such as this one, are definitely rare.
PLEASE NOTE: This copy includes the five leaves with the De Ratione Distillandi Aquas ex Omnibus Plantis.
Inscribed on the title page by a former owner (dated 1656); several more annotations on the front free endpaper, as well several annotations in an old hand in the margins or near illustrations. One initial cut out with some text loss on verso, one leaf chipped in corner with a few letters affected, one leaf pp. 571-572, with a paper repair in the outer upper corner with some text loss, and loss op part of an illustration. Old, oval, Hungarian former owner's stamp on the title page, and on many text leaves, usually in the margins, as well as an inscription (acquisition date, 10 January 1905) by the same former owner. A few more, old marginal, repairs, and a few spots and marginal stains, a larger damp-stain towards the rear; the ancient binding rather worn, but all this conform what one would expect from such an old book. One woodcut (donkey) coloured and one partly coloured (corn), probably a bit later, but not recent colouring.
In all and considering the age, still a good copy.