FLYING CATS AND UNUSUAL BIRTHS

Carpzov, Christian Benedict: KATTOΛOΓIA [i.e. Kattologia], das ist kurtze Katzen-Historie darinnen ingemein von denen katzen auch insonderheit die insolito felino lipsiensi oder von einder ungewöhnlichen Katzen-Geburth so zu Leipzig in dem 1713ten Jahre geschehen, gehandelt wird, auf ansuchung einiger guten Freunde mit nöthigen Kupffern versehen herausgegeben. Leipzig, zu finden bey Friedrich Lanckischens Erben, 1716. 

Copy in attractive binding of the first and only edition of this illustrated German treatise on cats, which focuses on rare varieties and unusual births. Particular attention is given to ‘flying cats’ (fliegender Katzen, p. 10), illustrated in plate 4 and presumably a misidentification for a species of bat, and six kittens born in Leipzig in 1713 ‘entangled’ (verwickelt, p. 90), illustrated in plate 5. The text also explores remarkable births in the human world. Identifiable historical figures, namely conjoined twins born in Hungary in 1701 (p. 1-2 [i.e. Ilona and Judit Gófitz]), are discussed alongside fictitious cases, such as a child said to have been born with a tail and an ear like a dog’s (illustrated in plates 1 and 2). The author, Christian Benedict Carpzov (1684-1749), came from a family of eminent scholars, especially jurists. His great uncle, Benedikt Carpzov the Younger (1595-1666), wrote on witchcraft trials.   

Details

One volume, 17.3 x 10.5 cms in binding, octavo, pp. [6] 96 + five engraved plates. Bound in speckled calf over boards with gilt centrepiece and single fillet frame tooled to both covers; gold-tooled black leather label to spine, gilt flowers to remaining spine compartments, brown speckled edges. Modern pencil notes to pastedowns. Condition (textblock): light browning. Condition (binding): Label partially lacking, light abrasion to leather, cracking to upper joint at head- and tailcap. 

VD18 11452145. OCLC shows copies outside mainland Europe at the British Library and Yale.