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A compilation of emblematical epigrams on the properties of animals, plants, and foods

REUSNER, Nicolaus.
Polyanthea, sive Paradisus poeticus: omnibus propemodum arboribus, plantis, & stirpibus consitus: omnique genere animantium tam terrestrium, quam aquatilium inhabitatus:  & illustrium poëtarum rivulis, fonticulisque irrigatus: ad horum vires cognoscendas studiosis, praesertim medicinae, utilissimus. Una cum penu poetica, variis esculentis & potulentis, ad victum quotidianum necessariis, referta.

With woodcut printer's device on verso last leaf, and one woodcut historiated initial.

With woodcut printer's device on verso last leaf, and one woodcut historiated initial.

With woodcut printer's device on verso last leaf, and one woodcut historiated initial.

With woodcut printer's device on verso last leaf, and one woodcut historiated initial.

With woodcut printer's device on verso last leaf, and one woodcut historiated initial.



Basel, Sebastianum Henricpetri, 1578. 8vo. Nineteenth century calf, spine ribbed and gilt, with gilt  supralibros of J. Gomez de la Cortina on both sides, marbled endpapers, g.e. (Petit Succr. de Simier) With woodcut printer's device on verso last leaf, and one woodcut historiated initial. 276, (32) pp. Collation: A-S8, T10.

First and only edition of a famous emblematic compilation of 'quotable quotations' by Nicolaus Resner (1545-1602), edited by his brother Jeremias Reusner (d. 1602), focussing on animals and plants, their good and bad qualities, properties and uses.
After the title-page (verso blank), the dedication by Jeremias Reusner to Georg Wirth, dated Sextilibus 1578 (pp. 3-7), and the poem Laudes hortuli (In praise of the garden) by Virgil (pp. 8-9), the Paradisus poeticus consists of separate parts, each preceded by an pigram dedicating the part to a fellow scholar, devoted to a group of plants or animals:
(1), pp. 10-36, the 'Pomarium poeticum', dedicated to Johannes Frediricus Hainzelius, containing epigrams on a great variety of trees and bushes;
(2), pp. 37-74, the 'Rosarium poeticum', dedicated to Johannes Jacobus Hainzelius' with epigrams on flowers;
(3), pp. 75-100, the 'Frumentarium olitoriumque poëticum', dedicated to Jogannes Ludovicus Hainzelius, with epigrams on cereals, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms;
(4), pp.101-131, the 'Leporarium poeticum', dedicated to Wolfgang Rhelingerus, with epigrams on a variety of animals;
(5), pp. 132-169, the 'Aviarium poeticum', dedicated to Carolus Rhelingerus, with epigrams on birds;
(6), pp. 170-195,  the 'Piscarium poeticum', dedicated to Johannes Philippus Stibarus, with epigrams on fishes, and
(7), pp. 196-218, the 'Spelaeum poeticum', dedicated Georgius Sebastianus Stibarus, with epigrams on snakes, reptiles, insects and caterpillars.
Pp. 219-231 contain long citations from Ovid's Metamorphoses and Halieutica, and Virgil, and two poems from the Anthiologia Latina.
The work ends with Reusner's 'Penus poetica: omnis generis esculentis, & potulentis, ad victum quotidianum necessariis, instructa, atque referta', pp. 233-276, perhaps the most interesting part with epgrams daly victuals  like bread, wine, vinegar, spices, fish, etc. An index completes the work. On the recto of the last leaf is the colophon, the verso contains the printer's device.

Nicolas Reusner was born in Lemberg  (Löwenberg) in Silesia in 1545, and died in 1602 in Strasbourg where he held the chair of Law. He was one of the famous German polyhistors, who published on a variety of subjects, including emblem books, poetry, rhetorical works, juridical works, works on politics, philosophy, geography, genealogy, etc. At the age of eleven, he already wrote remarkable verses in Latin. Reusner studied philosophy and law at Wittemberg and Leipzig, taught literature at the university of Lauingen, where he became rector. In 1583, he graduated in law at the university of Basle, to become professor in Law at Strasbourg. In 1595, he was honoured by emperor Rudolph II as a poet and received the dignity of Palatine count.

Very fine copy of a rare work.
VD16 R-1474; Hieronymus-Petri, no. 562; not in STC German, Adams; NUC lists one copy.

Related Subjects: 16th Century  Natural History 

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