First edition of the first work by Johannes Jonston (1603-1675), born in Poland but of Scottish origin. Jonston was the author of many works on natural history, medicine an other topics. Although his work was criticised for lack of originality, he undisputably made a significant contribution to the popularity of natural history during the first half of the 17th century. The present treatise on natural wonders is divided into 10 parts on different subjects: the sky and new stars, the elements, meteors, fossils or minerals, plants, birds, quadrupeds, invertebrates, fish, and men. The work was very popular, subsequent editions appeared 1633, 1661, and 1665. An English translation, titled An history of the wonderful things of nature, was published in 1657. Later, Jonston used this work as a basis for more specialised texts.
With 2 manuscript owner's inscriptions on the title page. Binding slightly stained, a tear in leaf L12 and a few wormholes, otherwise a good copy. DSB VII, p. 164 "the significant contribution his works made to the growing interest in natural history during the first half of the seventeenth century"; Garrison-Morton 287 "A compilation of all the contemporary zoological knowledge"; STCN 085000728; USTC 1013265.