A sumptuously bound copy of this important illustrated classic on falconry. From the collection of the Princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein, a still extant Southern German noble family, with their inkstamp on the title. First published in 1561, this work remained one of the most popular of its kind until the 18th century; it contains a wealth of interesting observations on the habits of animals since confirmed by naturalists. The woodcuts show a hunting party resting, a hunter being paid for shooting a deer, several kinds of antlers, the training and care of hounds, various tools such as spades, shovels, hoes, etc.; a shepherdess with her flock of sheep, and a three-masted ship with hunters and hounds on bord. Numerous hunting tunes are added as woodcut music in the text. The fine full-page woodcut on the reverse of the title page shows the author presenting his work to King Charles IX. Outer margin of title reinforced on verso (no loss to image); scattered light spotting, lightly browned. Occasional remarginings. Extremities lightly rubbed. A handsome, well-preserved copy.
Outer margin of title reinforced on verso, scattered light spotting, lightly browned, extremities lightly rubbed, lower hinge split. Souhart 153; Thiébaud, p.305; cf. Schwerdt p.153.