Zoology - Herpetology Redi, Francesco Osservazioni intorno alle vipere. With etched title vign. and final vign. in woodcut (signets of the Accademia della Crusca), as well as illustrated initial and ornamental border in woodcut. Decorative border in woodcut. Florence, All'Insegna della Stella, 1664. 1 sheet. (prel.), 91 (5, a.o. errata) pp., 1 leaf. (prel.) Cl.-4°. Flex. Pgt. d. Zt. w. hs. RTit. First edition of the first methodical work on snake venom. - Garrison, F.H. Medical bibliography, 2102 - Hirsch, A. Biographisches Lexikon der hervorragenden Ärzte aller Zeiten und Völker, vol. IV, p. 686 - Osler, W. Bibliotheca Osleriana, 3774 Wood, C.A. Introduction to the literature of vertebrate zoology, p. 530 - "The first methodical treatise on snake-poison. Redi demonstrated for the first time that, for the poison to produce its effects, it must be injected under the skin." (Garrison-Morton) - Francesco Redi (1626-94) was personal physician to two Grand Dukes of Tuscany, member of the oldest Italian linguistic society "Accademia della Crusca" and professor of medicine in Pisa. He is best known for his "exemplary research into viper venom" (Hirsch). In particular, Redi discovered that the venom of the viper is not produced in the animal's bile, but in two glands that open into the fangs. - The title page is printed in two colours, black and red. - Spine and rear board with old library labels, the boards with various entries in pencil in an old hand, including library sigla. - Binding slightly rubbed, some pages slightly fingerstained and foxed in the margins, otherwise a clean, wide-margined copy. Zoology. - Herpetology. - First edition of the first methodical work on snake venoms, with an etched title vignette depicting the mark of 'Accademia della Crusca'. - "The first methodical treatise on snake-poison. Redi demonstrated for the first time that, for the poison to produce its effects, it must be injected under the skin." (Garrison-Morton) - Francesco Redi (1626-94) was physician to two Grand Dukes of Tuscany, member of the oldest Italian linguistic society 'Accademia della Crusca' and professor of medicine in Pisa. He is best known for his 'exemplary research into viper venom' (Hirsch). In particular, Redi discovered that the venom of the viper is not produced in the animal's bile, but in two glands that open into the fangs. - The title page is printed in two colours, black and red. - Spine and rear paste-down with small old labels of a private library, paste-downs with various old entries in pencil, including library sigla. - Binding slightly worn, some pages slightly finger-stained and foxed at margins, otherwise a clean copy with wide margins. This lot is taxed. The hammer price is subject to a 24.95% surcharge and the final invoice amount is subject to 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.