Physique Sacree, ou Histoire Naturelle de la Bible.

(SCIENCES). SCHEUCHZER, JOHANN JACOB.

Pierre Schenk & Pierre Mortier

Amsterdam

1732-37

Eight volumes. First Edition. French text, plates also captioned in German and Latin. Occasional Hebrew. Illustrated plates by Jean-André Pfeffel: 759 plates including frontispiece, two portraits, five double-page plates and one colored plate (no. 66).

Brunet V, 198; Nissen ZBI 3662.

This enormous work, in eight folio volumes, represents an attempt to find correspondences between the Bible and the current state of scientific research and evidence. The hundreds of fine engraved plates illustrate biblical scenes and especially focus on botanical, zoological, astronomical, geographical, architectural, religious and emblematic representations. They often often represent the struggle between faith (or superstition) and science. Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672 -1733) was a Swiss scholar born in Zürich. Being both medically and scientifically trained he was appointed the town’s chief physician. He wrote a number of scientific works, often of observations from travels undertaken.