PHYSIQUE SACRÉE, ou
HISTOIRE-NATURELLE de la BIBLE

The only french edition of the beautiful illustrated Bible by Johann Jakob Scheuchzer

7 Volumes (Volumes 2-8) in French

Pierre Mortier & Pierre Schenk, Amsterdam, 1732-37 A.D.

You bid for 7 volumes of the only french edition of the spledid work by Johann Jakob Scheuchzer, published in Amsterdam by Schenk & Mortier in the years 1732-37.

The french edition was begun a year after the German and Latin editions and had been also completed with the numerous copper engraving illustrations. The bible comment by Scheuchzer is well-known for his rich illustrations and the unique connection of scientifical knowledge of the time and religious literature.

The numerous engravings, mostly with rich ornamental or figural borders, show besides scenes of the bible als illustrations of handcraft, industry and mining, as well as plants, fishes, birds, mammalians, reptiles, mussels, fabulous creatures, vermin (on the basis of different biblical plagues, for example: lice, locusts, spiders, scorpions etc.), anatomical illustrationc, etc. The engravings were made after originals by the painter Johann Melchior Füßli by Corvinus, Friedrich, Sperling, Tyroff and other famous engravers.

Translator/Author

Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (August 2, 1672 – June 23, 1733) was a Swiss scholar born at Zürich. The son of the senior town physician (Archiater) of Zürich, he received his education in that place, and, in 1692, went to the University of Altdorf near Nuremberg, being intended for the medical profession. Early in 1694 he took his degree of doctor in medicine at the University of Utrecht, and then returned to Altdorf, Germany to complete his mathematical studies. He went back to Zürich in 1696, and was made junior town physician (Poliater), with the promise of the professorship of mathematics; this he obtained in 1710, being promoted to the chair of physics, with the office of senior town physician, in January 1733, a few months before his death on June 23.

Title

"Physique sacrée, ou histoire-naturelle de la bible. Traduite du Latin de Mr. Jean-Jaques Scheuchzer, Docteur en Medecine, Professeur en Mathématiques à Zurich, Membre de l'Académie Impériale des Curieux de la Nature, & des Societés Royales d'Angleterre & de Prusse. Enrichi de Figures en Taille-douce, gravées par les soins de Jean-André Pfeffel, Graveur de S. M. Impériale. ... A Amsterdam, Chez Pierre Schenk. Pierre Mortier. M. DCC. XXXII [XXXIII; XXXIV; XXXV; XXXVII]."