Second edition, enlarged, of the most detailed and profusely illustrated work to date on the topography, geology, natural history, and climate of the Swiss Alps, based on the author's extensive field studies from 1702 to 1711. The first edition was published in 1702-08.

The work is illustrated with exquisite plates depicting not only city views and plans, but also botany, geology, technical instruments and even dragonology. Regarding the latter, in particular, he brings together the evidence found within local tradition and in the works of his predecessors, including Jakob Wagner, and classifies the dragons according to the places where they were sighted and according to their morphology. Some of the plates were published at the expense of Sir Isaac Newton, a friend of the author and other scientists including Hans Sloane, Derham and Petiver, and dedicated to the Royal Society of London.

Second edition; 4 vols in one, 4to (26 x 21 cm); frontispiece with engraved portrait of the author, title in red and black with printer's device, engraved title by Anna Wasera, woodcut initials, 132 engraved plates, many of which are folding, some browning and occasional spotting, remains of bookplate to front pastedown; contemporary full vellum, rebacked preserving original backstrip, ornamental centrepieces with additional frame and fleurons tooled in blind, spine in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, ms titles to second compartment, split to vellum in first compartment, slightly soiled; a very good copy.

DSB XII, 159; Farquhar/Cox 4; Nissen ZBI 3657; Perret 3947.