LAURENTI, Joseph Nicolai (1735-1805). Specimen Medicum, exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena et Antidota Reptilium Austriacorum. Vienna: Joan. Thomae, [1768].

8vo (175 x 108 mm). With 2pp. “Thesis” and 1p. errata at end; 5 folding engraved plates. (A few repairs to gutter margins, some dampstaining and soiling throughout, pink staining lower margin, plate edges rounded.) Contemporary morocco-backed marbled boards (repaired, dampstained); quarter morocco folding case. Provenance; Francesco Edoardo de Betta (1822-1896), Italian naturalist and herpetologist (signature); Olivero de Geduly (signature, Monaco, June 1951, given to:); Dr. George S. Myers (1905-1985), American ichthyologist (gift inscription, signature, stamp); Dr. Philipp Lehrs (d. 1956), German herpetologist (signature, a few pink underlinings in text).

FIRST EDITION of Laurenti’s rare work, the first significant review of amphibians and reptiles since Linnaeus. Prior to the publication of his work, amphibians and reptiles were both categorized as Class Amphibia; Laurenti’s work was the first to describe the Class Reptilia. RARE: according to American Book Prices Current, only one copy of this work has sold at auction in the last 40 years.

LAURENTI, Joseph Nicolai (1735-1805). Specimen Medicum, exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena et Antidota Reptilium Austriacorum. Vienna: Joan. Thomae, [1768].