Basilus Besler Copper Engraving/pre 1700/ Hortus/ Original/comfrey

Botanical print entitled "  Comfrey/ Symphytum maius flore purpurco; "  copper engraving   much older  colour Copper-engraved print, with older hand colour, from "Hortus Eystettensis", one of the earliest  pictorial records of the flowers grown in the garden of  Prince Bishop of Eichstatt, Johann Conrad von Gemmingen. The garden was begun by Joachim Camerarius in 1596 and, after his death in 1598, completed by Basil Besler, a pharmacist from Nuremberg.  It is  one of the earliest records of flowers from a specific, documented garden. Besler was asked to complete the work by Gemmingen in 1606; and he enlisted the help of his younger brother Hieronymus and Ludwig Jungermann, a nephew of Camerarius. Printing the Hortus may have begun as early as 1607. Drawings were made in situ and from specimens sent by the Bishop to Nuremberg; the Bishop reported to Hainhofer that he had boxes of fresh flowers sent every week to Besler at Nuremberg for sketching. A team of at least 10 engravers were employed to translate the drawings to copperplates. The gardens, along with most of the town of Eichstatt, were destroyed by the invading Swedish troops under Herzog Bernhard von Weimar in 1633-4, although they were partially restored by later bishops. Many of the original drawings survive in the University Library, Erlangen. Copper-engraved print, with fine hand colour. Dimensions: 540 by 447mm. .

 Published Nuremburg,  between 1611  and 1713 so the latest possible date of 1714 is listed then I have to be correct. The only ones verifiable as early prints will be the deluxe single sided edition. Also listed on my website at https://heatons-of-tisbury.co.uk/botanicalb.html and remember discounted for more than one due to postal charges being included on the website page and or trade prices

CONDITION ISSUES A few minute blemishes and the hand made rag paper type indicates a much  earlier edition c 1611. ** This will have  some show through of the type to verso due to a heavy handed printer which is common in early wood and copper block printing on larger scale. ***    £625 inc delivery / cheaper collected  Pics done  in daylight  . All are shown wrapped in cellophane due to age/value/dim shop customers