Specimen historiae plantarum.

Hadrianus Beys, Paris, 1611

Sole edition of this first French botanical-scientific publication.

Description: 2 works in 1 vol., contemporary vellum, spine lettered in manuscripts. Octavo: 24 × 17 cm; [4]ll. (the 4th blank), 152pp., [2]pp., 47pp. With 25 full-page engravings. Text in Latin and Greek.

Inserted: Th.[ou], J.[acques] A.[uguste] [de]: Crambe. Viola. Lilium. Phlogis. Terpsinoe. Parisiis. [Robert III Estienne.] M.D.CXI. The poems of Jacques Auguste de Thou (1553–1617) were often bound together with Reneaulme’s Specimen, which seems obvious for thematic reasons and because of the preface (Paulvs Renealmvs lectori). However, they are two independent publications.

Provenance: Several unidentified stamps scattered throughout the title page.

Ref.: Blunt 1950, 92; BnF: cb36124905z; Nissen: 150

Condition: Covers restored, a little wavy and rubbed, a chip at the foot of the spine. 2 small missing parts on the front pastedown, front flyleaf removed. Text block of the Specimen with a few old paper repairs to tears in margins, both works browned (the poems more so).

Notes: Wilfrid Blunt comments on Reneaulme’s work in his book The Art of Botanical Illustration: “A fine work which, like that of Vallet, has been strangely neglected. Reneaulme was in advance of his time; but his work, which was intended to be provocative, created no stir. The book, admittedly, is not calculated to attract a casual observer. Its etchings, however, are of the highest quality – exquisitely sensitive and extremely personal in treatment.”