Historia Naturalis by Johannes Jonstonus

In the exciting field of collections and particularly in that of facsimile collections, Siloé, Arte y Bibliofilia offers one of the richest collections in the field of Natural History and related subjects.

The Historia Naturalis by Johannes Jonstonus is considered to be the last great Renaissance encyclopaedia on this fascinating subject.

It truly represents one of the most outstanding efforts in human history to delve into the marvellous and often mysterious world of Nature, and to compile all the vast and dispersed knowledge that had lay dispersed in this discipline for centuries.

Siloé’s facsimile edition of the seven splendid volumes of this Historia Naturalis is one of the most ambitious publishing projects ever undertaken in the field of facsimiles.

It should also be borne in mind that the original of this work is regarded by historians as one of the greatest efforts in human history to delve into the marvellous and mysterious natural world.

Its author, Johannes Jonstonus, is a man who is described as of rich and versatile personality, for in addition to being a physician he was also a philosopher, historian, linguist, etc., and he produced one of history’s greatest compilations of knowledge on this subject.

The enormous importance of this beautiful collection is attested to by the fact that for almost 200 years, several of his different treatises – and especially that of de Avibus – were a compulsory reference in many of the most prestigious Central European universities of the period, especially in Germany. Not to mention Japan, a country in which Jonstonus’ Historia Naturalis not only «triumphed» and spread, but also became the only source of knowledge on the development of this science, natural history, in the West.

This ambitious treatise on nature has the added value of its exceptional artistic beauty. Indeed, its extensive iconographic array represents one of the most beautiful and innovative efforts to endow a work of this genre with all the didactic power of engravings, which here reaches one of its most vibrant expressions.

Its seven splendid facsimile volumes plus six volumes of complementary studies constitute one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world. It is worth highlighting the enormous added value provided by these complementary volumes, as in addition to the suggestive analyses by great experts that they contain, they incorporate the first Spanish version of the text of this work, of which there were already multiple versions in several languages a long time ago.

Limited edition of 898 numbered copies, with the corresponding notarial certificate. Beautiful handmade leather binding and preservation box.

Each of its treatises, as it was published, has received the corresponding National Prize from the Ministry of Culture for the best facsimile book published in Spain.