BRUNFELS ( Otto ), ed.

Precationes Biblicae …

      FIRST EDITION, the title-page printed in red and black within chiaroscuro woodcut border, woodcut on A8v followed by (181) pages of text and colophon all within wide woodcut borders of children playing, hunting and satirical scenes, trophies, grotesques, plants, animals, insects, etc., attributed to Hans Weiditz, wanting the final leaf which is blank except for printer's device, leaves (8), 91, small 8vo, 19C polished calf, gilt lettered spine, edges gilt, with the armorial bookplate of the bibliographer and author Percy L. Babington and the booklabel of T. Connolly, bookseller, Dublin : the last three leaves skilfully repaired and the upper hinge weak, but still a very good copy of a rare book. Adams P 2071 : FM only. "One of the earliest publications of Brunfels and very little known." - Fairfax Murray 100. A collection of biblical texts suitable for use as prayers collected by Brunfels (1488-1534), devoted follower of Luther and a leading botanical authority considered by Linnaeus to be one of the founders of modern botany. A rare book and one of the earliest examples of an illustrated protestant prayer book. In one of the borders is represented a fox in monkish garb selling indulgences to several geese with a treasure chest and papal standard behind : an excellent example of early anti-catholic satire in the art of book illustration. It appeared in German translation in 1531 as "Biblisch Bettbuchlein dar altvatter" and other translations followed. In England Robert Redman published it in 1535 as "Prayers of the Byble". Weiditz (c.1495-c.1536), sometimes known as 'The Petrarch Master" for his woodcut illustrations to Petrarch's "De remediis utriusque fortunae", also illustrated Brunfels' Herbarium. In 1520 he was probably studying at Durer's wookshop.