Physica sacra
By: Johannis Jacobi Scheuchzeri, medicinae doctoris, & math. in lyceo Tigurino prof. Academiae imperialis Nat. Curiosor. Leopoldino-Carolinae adjuncti, socc. reg. Anglicae ac Prussicae membri. Iconibus Aeneis illustrata procurante & sumtus suppeditante Johanne Andrea Pfeffel, Augustano, sacrae Caesarae majestatis chalcographo aulico
Contributors: Pfeffel, Johann Andreas, 1674-1748; Newton Theological Institution
Publisher: Christian Ulrich Wagner]
Published: 1731
Place of publication: Augustae Vindelicorum & Vlmae [Augsburg and Ulm, Germany
Language: lat
Subjects: Natural history; Pre-Linnean works; Nature in the Bible; Pictorial works
Notes: Also printed in German in Augusburg and Ulm in the same year under title: Kupfer-Bibel, in welcher die Physica Sacra, oder Geheiligte Natur-Wissenschafft derer In Heil. Schrifft vorkommenden natürlichen Sachen, deutlich erklärt und bewährt.

Name of printer supplied by Nissen.

Volume 1 printed in 1731; vol. 2 printed in 1732; vol. 3 printed in 1733; vol. 4 printed in 1735.

Plates have both Latin and German captions; text primarily in German with some passages in Greek and Hebrew.

While there is no mention of America in the text, there are numerous illustrations of American birds, such as vultures, golden eagles, and pelicans; animals such as flying squirrels, lobsters, and a narwhal; an illustration of cochineal; and an illustration of the aurora borealis.

Pagination: v. 1: [38], 272 p., [235] leaves of plates (2 double); v. 2: [2], 273-514 p., [192] leaves of plates (1 double); v. 3: [2], 515-1050 p., [184] leaves of plates (2 double); v. 4: [2], 1051-1536, [96] p., [57] leaves of plates.

Signatures: v. 1:  pi1 (pi1 verso blank) (a)-(i)² A-M² N² (-N2) O-2A² 2B² (-2B2) 2C-3Z²; v. 2: pi1 (pi1 verso blank) 4A-6O² 6P² (-6P2); v. 3: pi1 (pi1 verso blank) 6P² (-6P1) 6Q-12K² 12L² (-12L2); v. 4: pi1 (pi1 verso blank) 12L² (-12L1) 12M-17R² (A)-(2A)² ((2A)2 verso blank)

Text printed in two parallel columns.

Includes indexes.

Engraved head and tail pieces; initials.

Volume 1 has 235 plates, which are numbered I-CCXXV, and also includes 3 unnumbered plates before numbered plates begin, 2 double plates, and extra numbered plates 39a, 99b, 133a, 217a, and 223a; volume 2 has plates numbered from CCXXVI-CCCCXV, including 1 double plate and extra numbered plate 340b; volume 3 has plates numbered CCCCXVI-DXCII, including plate CCCCXXXVII misnumbered CCCCXXXVI, 2 double plates, and extra numbered plates 446b, 446c, 463a, and 470a; volume 4 has plates numbered from DXCIII-DCCL, including plate DCXXVIII misnumbered DCXIIX.

Brunet V:198.

Nissen, C. Botanische Buchillustration, 3660.

John Carter Brown Library copy volume 1 has plates numbered CLII-CLV, bound between p. 162-163, misbound from CLV-CLII; volume 4 has plate DXCIII misbound at the beginning of volume 4 instead of at the end of volume 3, and plate DCCXLVI, bound between 1530-1531, misbound after plate DCCXLVII.

John Carter Brown Library copy bound in contemporary full mottled calf.

John Carter Brown Library copy acquired with the assistance of the Sophia Augusta Brown Fund.

Provenance of the John Carter Brown Library copy: embossed bookstamps of the Newton Theological Institution on title pages.
Table of contents: title: (From title pages) Tomus I. Coplectens tabulas CCXXV; title: Tomus II. A tab. CCXXVI. ad CCCCXVI [sic., should read CCCCXV]; title: Tomus III. A tab. CCCCXVI. ad DXCIV [sic., should read DXCIII]; title: Tomus IV. A tab. DXCIV. ad DCCL.