Each part has separate t.p., four are engraved; separate pagination for each part; text in double columns, side-notes.

Form of author and publisher statements vary.

Woodcut vignettes on letterpress t.p.s, initials and tail-pieces.

First published Frankfurt am Main, 1650-1653. The plates, by Matthaeus Merian, and title pages have been redrawn and reversed in this later ed.

Pagination: De quadrupedibus: 6, [2], 163, [1] p., 80 leaves of plates; De serpentibus: [2], 27 [i.e. 37], [1] p., 12 leaves of plates; De insectis: [8], 147, [1] p., 28 leaves of plates; De exanguibus aquaticis: 58, [2] p., 20 leaves of plates; De piscibus et cetis: 5, [3], 160 p., 47 leaves of plates; De avibus: [12], 96, 89-160 p., 62 leaves of plates.

Final part (p. 151-[164]) of Historiae naturalis de quadrupedibus libri consists of: Petri Castelli, Romani, Extasis de hyaena odorifera, zibethum gignente, quae civetta vulgo appellatur.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

BM (Nat. hist.), v. 2, p. 942

Nissen, C. Zoologische Buchillustration, no. 2131-2135

SCNHRB has two complete copies (except for 9 plates in c. 1) and three incomplete copies. Separate parts bound in varying order in each copy, except for c. 2.

SCNHRB c. 1 (39088016455792, 39088016455834) lacking pls. no. 19, 20, 25, 26 of De quadrupedibus; pls. 39, 40, 53 of De avibus; pls. 33 & 34 of De piscibus.

SCNHRB c. 1 with ink ms. bibliographical note on front free endpaper and last leaf of v. 2.

SCNHRB c. 1 bound as 2 v. (pts. 1, 3, 2 and 6, 5, 4) in 17th-century calf, with gilt central lozenge-shaped ornament, title in gilt on spine (rebacked).

SCNHRB c. 2 (39088016455875) stamped on 1st t.p.: Library, U.S. National Museum Smithsonian Institution May 10 1894 [ms. acc. no.] 147337.

SCNHRB c. 2 plates not bound sequentially in De quadrupedibus.

SCNHRB c. 2 bound as 1 v. in contemporary vellum boards, with blind-embossed center ornament and rules, remains of ties; housed in a drop-back linen box.

SCNHRB c. 3 (39088016455917) has De piscibus et cetis, De exanguibus aquaticis, De insectis only, bound in that order; lacking pl. 28 of De insectis.

SCNHRB c. 3 has bookplate: Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Bequest of S. Stillman Berry. With the Berry property stamp on front paste-down: ... Redlands, California. 3.IV.1954.

SCNHRB c. 3 half bound in green sheepskin and acid-patterned boards; title in gilt on spine, with vignettes of fish on spine; marbled endpapers.

SCNHRB c. 4 (39088016455958) has De quadrupedibus, De insectis, and De serpentibus only, bound in that order.

SCNHRB c. 4 has leaf cut-out from previous binding with ink inscription to "Monsieur Spencer Baird" attached to front paste-down.

SCNHRB c. 4 has former owner's inscription on original front free endpaper: ... ex libris Petri De Man ....

SCNHRB c. 4 stamped on t.p. of De quadrupedibus: Library, U.S. National Museum Smithsonian Institution Mar 3 1882 [ms. acc. no.] 124935.

SCNHRB c. 4 plates bound throughout text and not sequentially as numbered. De quadrupedibus lacking pl. no. 4. De insectis has p. 19 bound following p. 2.

SCNHRB c. 4 bound in modern brown goatskin, title in gilt on spine.

SCNHRB c. 5 (39088016455990) has De avibus only, plates all bound at end.

SCNHRB c. 5 stamped on 2nd leaf: Smithsonian Institution National Museum Feb 12 1906 [in ms.] Richmond Collection 194240.

SCNHRB c. 5 half bound in modern dark brown goatskin and marbled paper boards, title in gilt on spine.

SCNHRB c. 6 (39088016456030) has De avibus, De insectis and De serpentibus only.

SCNHRB c. 6 bound in half vellum and marbled paper boards, title in gilt within red leather spine label.

SCNHRB c. 7 (39088016456071) has De avibus, De insectis (lacking the plates), De serpentibus only.

SCNHRB c. 7 has bookplate: Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Alexander Wetmore. Inscribed in ink on original front free endpaper: Alex. Wetmore A.D. 1959.

SCNHRB c. 7 inscribed in ink on original front free endpaper: Alex. Pitfeild [i.e. Pitfield] Anno. Dom. 1688.

SCNHRB c. 7 quarter bound in modern polished calf and taupe colored cloth boards, title in gilt within red leather spine label.

SCNHRB c. 8 (39088016456113) has De piscibus et cetis only, lacking t.p.

SCNHRB c. 8 stamped on 1st leaf: Library, U.S. National Museum Smithsonian Institution Jan 19 1887 [ms. acc. no.] 128945.

SCNHRB c. 8 bound in half green sheepskin and pebbled cloth boards, title in gilt on spine, marbled edges and endpapers.