Beschreibung:

LOBEL, MATTHIAS DE and PIERRE PENA. Stirpium adversaria nova. London: Thomas Purfoot, 1570 [i.e., 1571]. Folio, 291 x 201 mm., contemporary pigskin, covers panelled with pineapple rolls and heads in rolls, large central panelstamp of Justice on the upper cover and -- on the lower cover, upper cover and free endpaper detached, lower joint split, lacking fol. Pp2, marginal repair to engraved title, some marginal foxing . FIRST EDITION, engraved title incorporating a map of Europe, 272 woodcuts of plants, printed slips with woodcuts inserted before pages 11, 33 and 150, pasted-in slips on pp. 250 and 400. This copy with the privilège , granted by Charles IX for the sale of copies in France, on verso of last index leaf (*6v), woodcut initials. "The chief importance of this herbal lies in its system of classification which is better than that used by any contemporary botanist" (Henrey, p. 28). 800 copies of the sheets were later purchased by Plantin and reissued in 1576 with a new title-page (see following lots). Blunt & Stearn p. 83; Henrey 289; Nissen BBI 1502; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 4906; STC 19595. Provenance : "Joannis C. Busereut, Augustani," ownership inscription dated Tübingen, 1575, with quotation in Greek, on front pastedown; a few early manuscript corrections and marginalia -- Kenneth K. Mackenzie; Horticulatural Society of New York, bookplate and blindstamp -- Robert de Belder.