Poissons

2003 — Oblong 4to, 20.8x27.5cm. Pp. xvi,208, 114 full-page coloured reproductions, double-page half-tone reproduction of Wagenaer map (1584) of the western coastal area of the Netherlands. Orig. boards in pictorial laminated dust-jacket. Fine (new copy). - In the late 16th century, Dutch beachcomber Adriaen Coenen scanned the shores of Holland for interesting marine material. He produced several illustrated manuscripts of his findings, covering everything from the common herring to the exotic moonfish, as well as a few mythical creatures described to him by sailors. Coenen"s work is a rare visual and textual source for the natural world of his day, and contains the earliest known European pictures of whales, naively portrayed but easily identifiable. His lively watercolors are reproduced with their accompanying texts, which are translated here and augmented ashort introduction by the editors..