History of Rare Plants

...published, before I made them public: for I judged it to be of little merit to repeat the history of those things which had already been set forth by others. I would not deny, however, that I occasionally insert some things which others have mentioned, but whose history they do not seem to me to have written with sufficient fullness. Furthermore, I profess that I make mention of certain things which were described by others, and have even occasionally included their iconsoriginal: "icones" - refers to the woodcut illustrations or diagrams accompanying the text in my book, because they seemed convenient for maintaining the sequence of those things which I am describing.

Therefore, may this labor—which I have undertaken in this old age, subject to many diseases, out of a desire to gratify studious youthoriginal: "studiose juventuti" - a common dedication to students and young scholars—be received with favor, and may it incite other younger men to attempt similar or even greater things: for I gladly pass this torchoriginal: "lampadem trado" - a classical metaphor for passing on knowledge or a task to the next generation to another, as I am now in my seventy-sixth year. If, however, any life remains to me with moderate health, I profess that I shall devote it all to the public goodoriginal: "publicam utilitatem". The Kalends of FebruaryThe first day of February, 1601.

A decorative woodcut tailpiece. It features a central architectural pedestal topped with a grotesque mask or face with arms raised, supporting a flat platform. The pedestal is flanked by ornate symmetrical scrolls and foliage. At the base, two small animals, possibly hounds or foxes, sit back-to-back facing outwards.