Adelicher Zeit-Vertreiber, oder Neu-erfundene Jagd-Ergötzungen, in fünff Büchern bestehend [...] Aus dem Französischen in das Teutsche übers. [...].
8vo. 5 books in 1 volume. (I): (20), 119, (1) pp. With 7 numbered folded engraved plates. (II): 128 pp. With 17 numbered folded engraved plates. (III): 141, (1) pp. With 16 numbered folded engraved plates. (IV): 90 pp., 2 blank ff. With 10 numbered folded engraved plates. (V): 119, (1) pp. With 16 numbered folded engraved plates. In all, 66 engraved plates. With additional engraved title. Letterpress title printed in red and black. Contemporary full vellum with handwritten spine title. All edges red.
€ 2,500.00
A German translation of the well-known "Ruses innocentes", a work considered "one of the most successful French books on fowling" (Lindner) and that saw several editions between 1660 and 1743. A fine, complete copy. "This curious work [...] was for a long time very popular with French sportsmen, and is still much sought after by collectors of sporting books [...] Some of the illustrations are very quaint" (Harting). This edition is based on the 1695 Augsburg edition, the illustrations of which were mirrored and reproduced. They illustrate the various hunting techniques, traps and fishing nets described in the text. The engraved title reads, "Der Dianen hohe und nidere Jagdt-Ergötzungen" and shows the Roman goddess Diana surrounded by hunting weapons, hounds and prey.
With contemporary ownership "Hunger" to the title-page. Hungarian note of acquisition, dated 1919, to pastedown; two old shelfmarks to the flyleaf.
Binding slightly rubbed. Both title-pages folded, brownstained, a little wormed, small paper flaws rebacked. Small tears in several plates, slight loss of text. From the library of the Viennese collector Werner Habel, with his signed and stamped ownership, dated 1977, to the flyleaf.
VD 17, 3:004037X. Lindner 11.0621.01. Schwerdt I, 5. Souhart 515. Cf. Harting 85 (1695 ed.); Thiébaud 408-412 ("Ruses innocentes").