DE AGRICULTURA, omnibusque plantarum, & animalium generibus, libri XII. in quibus nihil non experientia comprobatum, by CRESCENZI, Pietro de'. ( Piero Crescentio ): - 1538

Basileae: Per Henricum Petrum, 1538, [mense Augusto anno M. D. XXXVIII.. causaque & vires rerum ita explicatae, ut confidamus non solum oeconomiae studioso, & medico, verumetiam philosopho aliquid hinc accessurum. Autore optimo agricola & philosopho Petro Crescentiensi. Qui haec senator Bononiae, multis legationibus functus, rogatu regis Siciliae Caroli, ante AN. CXX literis mandavit. Nunc autem tandem castigata ad exemplaria, autoris tempore scripta. Early Swiss edition 1538, dated from colophon, Latin text, small 4to, approximately 195 x 135 mm, 7¾x 5½ inches, publisher's pictorial device on title page and verso of final page (anvil, hammer, flames fanned by wind), pictorial initials, pages: [40], 1-574, [2], (last page misnumbered 564), collation: a-e4, A-Z4, 2a-2z4, Aa-Zz4, AA-CC4 (e4 is a blank leaf, CC4r is blank). Bound in contemporary blind panelled calf, decorative blind borders to covers with central floral decorated lozenge, rebacked at sometime, raised bands, no lettering or label, all edges red, original endpapers. Covers slightly worn and rubbed, spine crinkled, tiny surface tear on upper cover, tiny strip of leather missing at tail of spine, corners slightly worn with board showing at tips, front pastedown slightly chipped, armorial bookplate of the Harcourt family on the pastedown, ink stamp of Royal Agricultural college library on front endpaper, no other library signs, a couple of old numbers on reverse, 1 small pale ink smudge and a small faint water stain in lower margin of title page, lower outer corners from b-d3 very slightly ragged, nowhere near text, 4 top corners slightly creased, otherwise contents remarkably clean and undamaged, binding tight and firm. A very good copy of a famous book on farming. Pietro de' Crescenzi (circa 1230/35-circa 1320) was an Italian jurist from Bologna, now known as a writer on agriculture. Educated at the University of Bologna in logic, medicine, the natural sciences and law, Crescenzi practised as a lawyer and judge from about 1269 until 1299. After retiring to his villa, the Villa Olmo outside the walls of Bologna, he wrote this agricultural treatise based largely on classical and medieval sources, as well as his own experience as a landowner. After circulating in numerous manuscript copies, Crescenzi's treatise became the first printed modern text on agriculture when it was published in Augsburg by Johann Schüssler in 1471. A very popular work, some 57 editions in Latin, Italian, French, and German appeared during the following century. (Wikipedia). The author deals with all aspects of agriculture and farming including arboriculture for food and medicine, horticulture for the same, animal husbandry and bee keeping, hunting with dogs and hawks, fishing and fishponds, siting and layout of a manor, botanical properties of plants, monthly tasks, vines and wine making. Aslin, Catalogue of Printed Books on Agriculture 1471-1840, pages 315-317, listing amongst others, a Basle edition of 1548; A Catalogue of Printed Books in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library, Volume I, page 86; MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.