First Printed Book Entirely About Insects: Rare Book of the Week
De animalibus insectis libri septem by Ulisse Aldrovandi
Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi's 1602 De animalibus insectis libri septem is widely regarded as the first printed book focussed entirely on insects and a cornerstone of modern entomology.
Aldrovandi (1522-1605) was the chair of natural history at the University of Bologna, and founded a leading botanical garden in the city as well as putting together perhaps the century's largest scientific collection in Europe. His wife Francesca Fontana was a key part of his work, helping with research, editing his books, and also writing sections of the texts.
A first edition (Bologna, Giovanni Battista Bellagamba, 1602) copy of De animalibus insectis will go under the hammer tomorrow in Doyle's Rare Books, Autographs & Maps auction, featuring a wood-engraved title page and portrait, and several woodcut illustrations throughout. It has an estimate of $1,000 - $1,500.
