antique prints, maps and watercolors

(Rye) Der Fruchtbringenden... Frankfurt, 1719. $150.00

click for detailed image Merian-ValentiniSecaleBestVLG.jpg

"Secale"

This wonderful early 18th century landscape botanical is from the edition of the beautifully produced work entitled Der Fruchtbringenden Gesellschaft Nahmen, Vorhaben Gemaehide und Woerter. Michael Bernhard Valentini was a physician, a medical professor and a member of the Royal Society.  He was a great collector of natural history and owned a famous cabinet of curiosities. In the early 1700s, Valentini reproduced several previously published works including this one in 1719.

The original edition was published in Frankfurt in 1646.  Every plate in the work was engraved by Matthaeus Merian, a famous topographical artist and engraver; it is his only solo collection of botanicals. It is believed that Valentini obtained the original plates for the first edition and reissued them in order to create his edition. Of the original edition, Nissen says it is one of the most beautiful emblem books ever produced. There is text on the verso of each print, so in general there is always some very light evidence of the text coming through the print.  This is true of all Merian and Valentini engravings.

The background shows distant rolling hills of cultivated fields. The foreground shows a brick oven where bread is being baked.

Engraving with hand coloring.
8 ¼ x 14 inches, sheet.
Excellent condition.