Petrus de Crescentiis, or Pietro Crescenzi was a Bolognese jurist, but best known for his manual on agriculture, the Ruralia Commoda, first written in c.1305.  It is one of the most attractive illustrated natural history books of the incunable period (1450-1500) and appeared in 12 editions during that time.  The Ruralia commoda was translated into several languages from the mid-14th century and remained the leading standard work in agriculture, hunting and falconry until the 16th century.  The fine woodcuts represent husbandry scenes, many plants, animals, falconry, hunting, and other country pursuits. 

This copy of Petri de crescentis civis Bononiensis in commodum ruralium cum figuris libri duodecim was printed by Peter Drach, a printer in Speyer, in western Germany. Originally written in c.1304-9, it was first printed in Augsburg in 1471, and thereafter regularly reprinted. This is a copy of the ninth edition, printed c. 1490-5. The text was indirectly based on De re rustica, by Columella (4-c.70), a Roman writer on agriculture (see RCIN 1071410). The book contains woodcuts throughout the book; sometimes the images are repeated which was common in this early period of printing. The books has limited notations but a previous owner has systematically split up the index marking different sections and where the new letters begin. This book contains three hundred and thirteen woodcuts, a large number for the period.

This book contains the book stamp of Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria to show it was part of his personal collection.

The binding has three double cords attaching wooden boards, full leather, possibly sheep.

This is an incunable, from the Latin incunabula (swaddling bands). This term is given to books ‘from the cradle of printing’, from 1455 when Johannes Gutenberg completed the Gutenberg Bible, the first handpress book printed with movable type, up to 1500. These books are from the first 45 years of printing.