Illustrations
1 Portrait of Huldrych Zwingli, painted by Hans Asper (1549). ZBZ, Graphische Sammlung und Fotoarchiv: Inv. 6 3
2 Detail from the Murer-Plan of 1576 with the Grossmünster church, where the Hohe Schule was located, and Gessnerâs house, where he lived from 1552 at the latest (reprint 1859/60). ZBZ, Abteilung Karten und Panoramen: 4 Lb 02:5 8
3 Cast of the comedy Ploutos by Aristophanes, which was performed in Zürich on January 1, 1531. Gessner played the part of Penia (poverty). Aristophanes, Comoediae, Paris 1528, f.aiiv. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Zwingli 270 14
4 Portrait of Oswald Myconius. Copper engraving by Johann Jakob Schönauer (1695â1767), possibly after a late-seventeenth-century painting. ZBZ, Graphische Sammlung und Fotoarchiv: Myconius, Oswald I,1 19
5 A Greek poem by Gessner and Fries that was sent to Bullinger. ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: MS. F 62, f. 256r 22
6 A map of Paris, in: Georg Braun, Beschreibung und Contrafactur der vornembsten Stätt der Welt, Cologne 1582, plan no. 8. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: T 45 26
7 Portrait of Heinrich Bullinger by an unknown sixteenth-century artist. ZBZ, Graphische Sammlung und Fotoarchiv: Inv. 483 34
8 The Greek and Latin distichon on the title page is by Conrad Gessner. Universae medicinae compendium â¦, by Leonhart Fuchs, Tübingen 1537. University Library Basel: La I 12.3 39
9 A city map of Lausanne, in: Matthäus Merian, Topographia Helvetiae, Rhaetiae et Valesiae, Frankfurt/M. 1642. Gessner lived across from the cathedral apse. ZBZ, Alte Drucke und Rara: T 137 44
10 Doctor with a flask of urine, in: Jost Ammann, Stände und Handwerker mit Versen von Hans Sachs, Frankfurt/M. 1568 (facsimile, Munich 1884), f. Diiir. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: IV B 395e 50
11 A 1545 portrait of Guillaume Rondelet by an unknown artist. Medical Faculty of the University of Montpellier 54
12 City map of Lyon, in: Martin Zeiller, Topographie Galliae, Frankfurt/M. 1656. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: T 148 60
13 City map of Basel, in: Mattäus Merian, Topographia Helvetiae, Rhaetiae et Valesiae, Frankfurt/M. 1642. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: T 137 66
14 Notes written by Gessner in his personal copy of Aristotle, Opera omnia, Basel 1539. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: B 83: a 84
15 Rudolf Gwaltherâs hand-written Loci-collection in which he organized reading sources according to topics. Page from the table of contents with the keywords Tempus (time) and Homo (person) with corresponding subterms. ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: MS. D 129 90
16 Caspar Wolfâs medical Loci-collection with recipes, remedies and advice, in part from Gessnerâs possessions, that are organized by illness (here, vertigo-dizziness). ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: MS. S 204a, f. 88r 93
17 Gessnerâs lecture notes about the cosmological books by Pliny the Elder. ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: MS. C 50a, f. 41r 95
18 The world map, in: Johannes Honter, Rudimentorum cosmographicorum libri, Zürich 1552. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: RR 1831 97
19a Sketch of Aristotleâs 12 winds that Gessner used in his lectures. An unknown student re-drew the image by hand into his copy of the geography textbook by Johannes Honter, Rudimentorum cosmographicorum libri, Zürich 1552. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: RR 1831 98
19b After Gessnerâs death, Caspar Wolf edited his handwritten lecture notes, among which was a diagram of Aristotleâs 12 winds. Conrad Gessner, Physicarum meditationum libri, Zürich 1586, p. 129. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: 5.86 99
20 A reverse printed map of the Holy Land from 1525 with the Zürich fleet off the coast. It shows the first map that was bound inside a Bible. ZBZ, Abteilung Karten und Panoramen: 31 Nv 02:1 101
21 A letter from Justinus Gobler to Gessner, dated September 13, 1562. Gessner marked individual thematic sections with brackets, which he would then cut out and organize according to subject. StAGR: D V/37 C 36.06.18 104
22 Gessnerâs residence at Frankengasse 6 in Zürich. Photograph: Donat Stupan, Zürich 109
23 Portrait of Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, oil painting by an anonymous artist from the second half of the sixteenth-century. Prado National Museum, Madrid: P00295 115
24 View of St Markâs Square in Venice from the Tower of the Chiesa di San Georgio Maggiore. Photograph: Lukas Keller, Zürich 121
25 Gessnerâs personal copy of the Bibliotheca universalis with many annotations and additions intended for a new edition. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Dr M 3 124
26 Gessner divided the sciences into twenty-one subject areas. The most elevated of all sciences was theology. Diagram by Gessner (1549), f. a6r 133
27 Portrait of Christoph Froschauer the Elder by an unknown sixteenth-century artist. Orell Füssli AG, Zürich 135
28 Map of the city of Augsburg with the Fugger palace and in the back the dwelling of Leonhard Beck von Beckenstein: Georg Braun, Beschreibung und Contrafactur der vornembsten Stätt der Welt, Cologne 1582, plan no. 40. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: T 45 155
29 Augsburg memorial to Johann Jakob Fugger in front of the Maximilian Museum, formerly the residence of Leonhard Beck von Beckenstein. Photograph: Lukas Keller, Zürich 159
30 Hermet ibis, in: Gessner (1555a), p. 337. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: 5.2 168
31 Guinea pig, in: Gessner (1553a), p. 63. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: AW 1 175
32 Three-horned reindeer, in: Gessner (1551), p. 950. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 41 179
33 Mammoth tusk, in: Gessner (1560), p. 34, with Gessnerâs handwritten notes. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 44 181
34 Stained glass design, probably for Gessnerâs study room. ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: MS. P 66 182
35 Print manuscript of Thomas Mouffetâs work on insects. British Library London: Sloane, MS. 741, p. 93 184
36 Thomas Mouffet, Insectorum sive minimorum animalium theatrum, London 1643, p. 93. Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: TZ 92 185
37 Sea monk, in: Gessner (1558), p. 519. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 48 192
38 Su, in: Gessner (1560), p. 127, with Gessnerâs handwritten annotations. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 44 195
39 Sea boar, in: Gessner (1558), p. 247. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 48 196
40 Rhinoceros, in: Gessner (1551), based on Albrecht Dürerâs illustration, p. 953. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 41 199
41a Goat with monogram H[ans] A[sper] from the animal album of Felix Platter. University Library Amsterdam: MS. C III 22, p. 31 201
41b Hans Asperâs goat as published, in: Gessner (1551), p. 302. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 41 202
42a Blue butterfish (Stromateus fiatola) from Johannes Kentmannâs animal album that was copied from an illustration by Gysbert van der Horst in Rome. Johannes Kentmann, Animalium aquatilium icones, Duchess Anna Amalia Library Weimar: Fol. 323, p. 30 204
42b Cornelius Sittardus sent Gessner a copy of the same picture from Gysbert van der Horst, which together with other animal images made its way to Felix Platter in Basel after Gessnerâs death. University Library Amsterdam: MS. C III 22, p. 110 205
42c Publication of the blue butterfish by Gysbert van der Horst, in: Gessner (1558), p. 1110. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 48 206
43a Torpedo ray from the animal album of Johannes Kentmann after an illustration by Gysbert van der Horst in Rome. Johannes Kentmann, Animalium aquatilium icones. Duchess Anna Amalia Library Weimar: Fol. 323, p. 23 207
43b In Rome, Sittardus copied the same picture of the torpedo ray that Kentmann had and sent it to Gessner. After Gessnerâs death, it was added to Felix Platterâs animal album, which today is kept in the University Library Amsterdam: MS. C III 22, p. 122 208
43c Publication of the torpedo ray by Gysbert van der Horst, in: Gessner (1558), p. 1188. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 48 209
44 Gessner drew the sketch himself for this woodcut of a sea urchin, which is noted in the margin of his private copy (âpinxiâ). Gessner (1560a), p. 257. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 44 211
45 Common goldeneye, in: Gessner (1555a), p. 115. ZBZ Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 48 212
46a Elephant, in: Gessner (1563a), f. 74v. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NS 4 224
46b Hans Heinrich Pfau hand copied the German version of Gessnerâs animal book (Vol. 1), replacing Gessnerâs elephant with its âscrew-likeâ trunk with an improved illustration. Stadtbibliothek Winterthur: MS. Fol. 228, f. 80v 225
47a One of Gessnerâs personal copies of: André Thevet, Les singularitez de la France antarctique, autrement nommée Amérique, Anvers 1558, p. 67. University Library Basel: Hx VI 30 226
47b Gessnerâs drawing of the Thevetia ahouai fruit in the second volume of the Historia plantarum has been preserved in Erlangen. Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/2, f. 349r 227
48a Giraffe, in: Gessner (1560), p. 125. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NNN 44 229
48b Gessnerâs giraffe and other creatures from his animal books were printed by the Flemish Jesuit Ferdinand Verbiest on his world map. University Library Uppsala 230
49 Stained glass window from 1545 that was donated by Conrad Pellikan, Theodor Bibliander and Conrad Gessner for Heinrich Bullingerâs study. It depicts Jesusâs last supper with his apostles. In the center lies the Passover lamb, which suggests the allegorical Lamb of God (John 1:29). Landesmuseum Zürich, Inv. no. AG-1168 233
50 Comparative lists of Swiss-German and Schwabish words, in: Conrad Gessner, Mithridates, Zürich 1555, f. 38v. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: RR 1402 237
51 Gessner at the age of 39. Portrait by Jos Murer (monogram IM above the frame), in: Gessner (1555a), back side of the title page. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: 5.2 245
52 The imperial grant of arms for Conrad Gessner. ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: FA Gessner 1000 247
53a Drawing of a tulip that Gessner acquired in 1557, in: Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/2, f. 220r 249
53b The first published image of a tulip, in: Cordus (1561), f. 213r . ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: I R 5 250
54 Detailed drawing of pear blossoms by Gessner, in: Pietro Andrea Mattioli, Commentarii secundo aucti, in libros sex Pedacii Dioscoridis Anazarbei de medica materia, Venice 1558, p. 154. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Dr M 438 252
55 Drawing of a tomato plant. Grown in his own garden, Gessner called this a âgolden appleâ, a âlove appleâ, or a âNew World appleâ, in: Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/1, f. 42r 262
56 Mountain cowslip (Primula auricula), in: Gessner (1555), p. 24. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: 5.200 271
57 Strawberries in Gessnerâs garden that he drew himself, from: Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/2, f. 388r 284
58a Fig (Ficus carica) by Gessner with detailed studies. Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/2 f. 346 v 286
58b Figs from the illustrated herbarium of Ulisse Aldrovandi, Tavole di piante, vol. III, p. 193, Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna 287
59a Yellow-red daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva) by Gessner with detailed studies. Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/s, f. 284r 288
59b Yellow-red daylilies, in: Ulisse Aldrovandi, Tavole di piante, vol. I, p. 87, Biblioteca Universitaria di Bologna 289
60a Tulip from Johannes Kentmannâs album of plants: Herbarum fruticum, arborum nondum ab aliquo depictarum, Centuria prima, Duchess Anna Amalia Library, Weimar: Fol. 323, p. 16 292
60b Gessnerâs copy of Kentmannâs tulip with detailed studies, in: Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Tartu: MS. 56, f. 3r 293
61a Cedar from Johannes Kentmannâs album of plants: Herbarum fruticum, arborum nondum ab aliquo depictarum, Centuria prima, Duchess Anna Amalia Library, Weimar: Fol. 323, p. 89 294
61b Gessnerâs copy of Kentmannâs cedar with detailed studies, in: Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Tartu: MS. 56, f. 41r 295
62a Maple leaves in: Conrad Gessner, Historia plantarum, University Library Erlangen, MS. 2386/1, f. 7v 296
62b Camerarius published a few plants from Gessnerâs Historia plantarum, among which were these maple leaves: Joachim Camerarius, Kreutterbuch, Frankfurt/M. 1586, f. 35v. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Rx 12:b 297
63a Helmet iris (Orchis militaris), which Hans Weiditz very accurately illustrated, even showing signs of the plantâs decay. Burgerbibliothek Bern: BBB ES 71 (3) 299
63b Helmet iris by Hans Weiditz, published in: Otto Brunfels, Herbarum vivae eicones, Strasbourg 1532, p. 103. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: I R 3:a 300
64 Mattioliâs Aconitum, in: Pietro Andrea Mattioli, Commentarii secundo aucti, in libros sex Pedacii Dioscoridis Anazarbei de medica materia, Venice 1558, p. 537. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Dr M 438 306
65 Gessnerâs Aconitum, in: Gessner (1577a), p. 4. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: 5.124 309
66 A complex distillation apparatus, in: Gessner (1552), p. 440. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Md E 377 314
67 Portrait of Conrad Gessner, March 7, 1564, oil, by Tobias Stimmer. Museum Allerheiligen Schaffhausen 325
68 The pump works at Bad Fideris, in: Gessner (1553c), f. 295r. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: Md U 2 330
69a Rear view of nude, drawn by Jos Murer with Gessnerâs Latin and Greek handwritten labels of individual body parts from ancient authors. ZBZ, Handschriftenabteilung: MS. Z VII 118 342
69b Similar rear-view nude with somewhat comparable anatomical labeling by an unknown scholar. Charles Estienne, De dissectione partium corporis humani libri, Paris 1545, p. 155. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: AW 63 343
70 Cover page of Libellus de tumoribus â¦, by Jakob Ruf, Zürich 1556. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: 5.166 349
71 Depiction of the northern lights on December 28, 1560 on a broadsheet printed in Nuremberg from the news collection of Johann Jakob Wick (Wickiana). ZBZ, Graphische Sammlung und Fotoarchiv: PAS II 1/14 363
72 Title page of Gessner (1565a) depicting an amber ring with an encased insect, a diamond ring and 12 gems from the Old Testament breastplate of the High Priest. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: NG 1910 367
73a Fossilized crab Palaeocarpilius macrochelus from Gessnerâs private collection. It is very likely from the Eocene epoch and came from the Lessin Mountains north of Verona. Museum of Natural History, Basel, Geological Section, no. F 1281 375
73b Drawing of the crab at original size from Felix Platterâs fossil and mineral album, which also contains the preliminary drawings for Gessnerâs De rerum fossilium ⦠liber. The fossil was lightly magnified by the artist. University Library Basel: MS. K I 2, f. 68r 376
73c Partially colorized woodcut of the crab at a smaller scale, from Gessner (1565), f. 167r. ZBZ, Abteilung Alte Drucke und Rara: FF 1264 377
Tables
1 Printing centers of the fifteenth century 122
2 Printing centers of the sixteenth century 122
3 Books dedicated to printers 139
4 Prices for Gessnerâs animal books 216