Petri Bellonii Cenomani Plurimarum singularium & memorabilium rerum in Graecia, Asia, Aegypto, India, Arabia [Petrus Belonius… Observations of Many Singularities and Memorable Items in Greece, Asia, Egypt, India, Arabia…]. Antwerp: C. Plantini, 1589. Latin.
Latin translation of the work known as "Observations", by the French naturalist Pierre Belon, first published in French in 1553. The work describes Belon's ethnographic, botanical and zoological studies, which he conducted during his travels through Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, and Judea, between 1546 and 1549. Many in–text woodcuts, illustrate Belon's study observations and results. Printed and bound with another work by Belon, pertaining to the chicory plant.

Pierre Belon (1517–1564), French scientist and traveler, leading naturalist in his times, father of comparative anatomy. Belon was one of the first Europeans to study the flora and fauna of the Near East, and made great contributions to the development of the sciences of botany, ornithology (study of birds) and ichthyology (study of fish). Belon was one of the first researchers to incorporate illustrations in his scientific works.

[8], 495; [87] pages (slightly mispaginated). Approx. 17.5 cm. Good condition. Stains, including dampstains. Minor tears to a few leaves at beginning of volume. Many inscriptions to leaves and inside binding (in Latin characters). Several detached leaves. Fine leather binding, worn and rubbed. Abrasions to binding edges. Minor tears to spine.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, NHB. 372.