THE LIFE OF THE EPHEMERON original: "Ephemeri Vita." Swammerdam uses the Greek-derived Latin term for the mayfly, a creature that lives for only a day.

Or a depiction of

HUMAN LIFE,

Presented in the

Wonderful and never-before-heard History of the flying and one-day-living

MAYFLY or BANK-BAIT. original: "Haft of Oever-aas." These are traditional Dutch names for the insect; "Oever-aas" refers to its use as bait found on riverbanks.

A little creature, known by its name everywhere in the Netherlands: but which, within the span of five hours, grows, is born, is young, molts twice, breeds, lays eggs, sheds seed, grows old, and dies.

Wherein, as well as concerning various other Little Creatures, many unheard-of and hitherto hidden wonders are discovered from nature, leading to the knowledge of God and of ourselves.

Everything depicted from life with Figures Figures: detailed scientific illustrations, often engraved on copper plates by the Author.

To this is added at the end,

A thorough and never-heard-of treatise on the true state of man, both before and after his fall. Swammerdam was heavily influenced by the mystic Antoinette Bourignon, leading him to pair his biological observations with spiritual meditations on the frailty of human existence.

JOHANNES SWAMMERDAM, Doctor of Medicine of Amsterdam. original: "Amst. Med. Dr."

A small decorative woodcut printer's ornament featuring symmetrical floral scrolls and leaf motifs.

A purple oval library stamp overlaps the printer's ornament and location text, belonging to the "Dutch Entomological Society."

in AMSTERDAM,

By ABRAHAM WOLFGANG, Bookseller,

On the Rokin, near the Exchange, 1675.