Author: ORBIS PICTUS.- Portuguese.-
Title: Rare 'Orbis pictus' edition containing 46 leaves containing 9 woodcut frames each. A small engraving is pasted into the reserved space within the woodcut. Below the woodcut the correct phonetic pronunciation and emphasis is given. The words cut into what seem syllables. For example 'Hammer' is 'Mar - té - llo'; Monkey is 'Jó-ko' or 'sál-vá-gem.'
Description: No place [Lisbon?], No publisher [??]. No date [appr. 1800 - 1810]. 8vo. [13.5 x 19 cm]. W. 46 thick paper leaves containg 46 x 9 [=414] minus 4 [detached and lost or not glued in] is 410 examples. (II (blank), 46 lvs. of pictures, verso w. the printed text on itself, II (blank) pp.). (A number of the pictures overpainted to heighten the effect of the pictures, w. a brownish watercolour / wash, contemporary.). Rebound in recent brown full cloth, but 80-90% of the original half clf. spine and marbled covers laid down on the cloth. (Upper free endp. w. a 6 line contemp. dedication in ink, by ? to Jose de Carvalho: 'Pertence este livro de leituras ... com desenhos do Senhor Domingoz Antonio de Segueira a Jose de Carvalho Mestre de lei na sua Bella ....? ein em? Lisboa']. A very curious Portuguese Orbis pictus, containing 410 engraved ills. of a.o. household utensils, flowers & plant leaves, church & religious items, animals, musical instruments, furniture, insects, fishes, birds, poultry, wild animals, military attire. etc. Names mentioned in the written dedication: Sanches Domingoz Antonio de Segueira, Jose de Carvallho. As far as we can see the 6 line inscription places the book in the hands of the lawyer Jose de Carvalho, the dedication mentioning the famous Portuguese painter at the Royal Court of King John VI of Portugal, Domingos Antonio de Segueira [1768 - 1837], as the designer / engraver of the pictures.

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