De re hortensi libellus (A small book on gardening); ...vulgaria herborum, florum ac fruticum qui in hortis conseri solent nomina latinis vocibus efferre docens ex probatis authoribus, in puerorum gratiam...

Paris: Robert Estienne, 1545. 16mo, 6 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (160 x 107 mm); pp. 141 + errata + [6], title with woodcut printer's device, errata to penultimate verso, text in Latin on hand-made laid paper, supple and clean, with very minor toning; ink doodles and previous owner name inscribed on blank pages at end of book. Later brown calf binding with 5 raised bands and silver titles.

[BNF30407841]. This title first appeared 1535, then 1543, and this edition, as stated on the title page, "was lately added another pamphlet concerning the worship and manner of gardens, according to the opinion of the ancients." It was intended for the enlightenment of children, and examines the names and characteristic features of plants, including French translations of botanical terms.

CHARLES ESTIENNE (1504-1564), known as Carolus Stephanus in Latin and Charles Stephens in English, was an early exponent of the science of anatomy in France. He was part of the illustrious Estienne family of printers and the younger brother or of Robert Estienne I, who published this book. Charles grew up in the world of letters and ancient languages; he worked a little in the workshop then studied medicine in Paris. He published several treatises on anatomy and made important discoveries; he traveled widely in Europe and met the printer Paulus Manutius in Venice, returning to Paris to teach and practice medicine until 1550 when he is obliged to take over the press from his brother who had fled to Geneva. He published beautiful editions in Greek and Latin but was embroiled in scandals relating to Greek matrices and typographical characters created by Claude Garamont for the press on commission from King Charles I, and removed from the press by his older brother Robert. Having remained at the head of the Estienne Press, Charles was condemned in 1557, his property seized and he died penniless in 1564.