Chapter Three. The Contents Of The Library

This chapter discusses the most prevalent printing locations in Gessner?s library. Basle, Paris and Venice are most prominent. More than half of Gessner?s library was printed in these three towns. The Paris printing presses accounted for 53% of the French book production and the printers of Venice for 56% of the Italian one. It?s interesting that the Italian book market remained important for Gessner despite of the Italian opposition to the reformation. It is worth mentioning that even as a physician and naturalist Gessner studied not only new but also older titles. He gathered nearly a century?s worth of science in his study. Gessner wrote three dialogues for a responsible reading of the sometimes erotic and sexually shocking Greek and Latin classics and added them to the epigrams. The persons and the contents of these three dialogues are reminiscent of the comedy ?Adelphoe? by Terence.Keywords: Basle; Conrad Gessner; Gessner?s library; Italian book market; Paris printing presses; Venice