GRÉVIN (Jacques). Deux livres des venins, ausquels il est amplement discouru des bees venimeuses, theriaques, poisons et contrepoisons. Ensemble les œuvres de Nicandre, medecin et poëte grec, traduictes en vers françois. Antwerp, Christophe Plantin, 1568. 2 parts in one volume in-4, supple vellum with covers, gilt fillet, oval arabesque medallion in the centre, smooth spine decorated, later handwritten title, green silk ties (Binding of the period). First edition of this rare treatise on toxicology. It is decorated with 52 handsome figures of plants and animals in the text in various formats, wood-engraved by Jean de Gourmont after drawings by Geoffroy Ballain. Born in Clermont-en-Beauvaisis in Picardy, Jacques Grévin (1538-1570) is best known as a poet, a disciple of Ronsard even though he was a Calvinist, and one of the first playwrights to introduce tragedy into France, following in the footsteps of Jodelle. A doctor by profession, he died in Turin at the age of thirty-two, in the service of Marguerite de France, Duchess of Savoy, daughter of François I. In 1567, he published a translation of Jean Wier's famous work De l'imposture et tromperie des diables, and in 1569 he published another translation of Vesalius' Anatomy. This important treatise, published by Christophe Plantin, is divided into two books, the first of which is devoted to the bites of venomous beasts and theriacs, and the second to poisons and counterpoisons. The second part is followed by the Works of Nicander, a Greek physician and poet of the 2nd century BC, translated into French verse by Jacques Grévin. A precious copy in its first gilt vellum binding. From the library of Stanislas de Guaita (1899, n°372), with bookplate and autograph note on the first endpaper ("Très rare"). Two boxes and a corner skilfully restored. Voet, n°1266.