Amsterdam, J. C. Sepp en Zoon, 1816. 8vo (21.8 x 13.0 cm). [ii (dedication leaf)], x, 64 pp. Original printed boards.

A peculiar taxidermic work by one of the leading Dutch naturalists of the 18th and early 19th century, Martinus Slabber (1740-1835). Slabber published his work, which includes his new formulas for successfully drying and mounting bird specimens, after 50 years of personal research. OCLS reports seven copies in the Netherlands, and two in the USA. it also lists this work with a long title Verhandeling over het opzetten van vogelen: inhoudende eene volledige onderrigting wegens deze kunst, en hoedanig men handelen moet met vogels die versch gedood, of gedroogd zijn, en dezulken die uit Oost- of West-Indiën, in zoogenaamd sterk water, worden overgezonden, en de poeders opgegeven om de optezettene vogelen voor bederf te bewaren: uit ondervinding van meer dan vijftig jaren beschreven which, however, is not found in this, obviously complete, copy, nor in that of Wageningen University. An early example of publisher's blurb is mounted on the front pastedown. The rear board contains a list of other natural history publications by Sepp, including Nozeman's Afbeelding en beschrijving van Nederlandsche vogelen; Temminck's Manuel d'ornithologie; Sepp's Afbeelding en beschrijving Nederlandsche kapellen, etc. Uncut. A very good, clean copy. Very rare. Not in any major reference work.