Auction 45
Lot 084:
"[Ouresiphoitēs] Helveticus, sive, Itinera per Helvetiae Alpinas regiones facta annis MDCCII, MDCCIII, MDCCIV, MDCCV, MDCCVI, MDCCVII, MDCCIX, MDCCX, MDCCXI : plurimis tabulis aeneis illustrata. Published: .Lugduni Batavorum : Typis ac sumptibus Petri Vander Aa." Leiden 1723. The work is in Latin and details the conclusions of the researcher Johann Jakob Scheuchzer of Zurich from his journey to the Swiss Alps.
Includes wonderful engravings of landscapes, maps, plants and geological minerals, and sketches and tables. 64 engravings, some open up larger. Seems to be missing one engraving between pages 288-289. Original binding, spine, and leather corners, stains, light tears, brittle paper, overall good condition.
Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672-1733) was a Swiss researcher, the son of a local doctor. As the son of a doctor he also underwent medical and physics training in some universities. He travelled throughout Switzerland, particularly the central and Eastern areas. On his visit in 1705 to the Rhone Glacier, he added the fullest description of the rest of the Swiss glaciers, as far as was known then.
Whereas in 1706, having mentioned certain wonders seen in the museum in Espace, he adds in good faith reports of people after seeing dragons in Switzerland. He himself doubts their existence, but illustrates the reports by imaginary representations of dragons, which led some modern writers to underestimate his credibility as a traveler and naturalist, as the belief in dragons was then widespread.
Share this lot:
