BSB find of the day: Turkeys!

[mmcnealy]

Looks like the good folks at the BSB are back from vacation and are finally getting out of the theological sections.

Today they posted this book, Animal Book, illustrated by Jost Amman and Hans Bocksberger the Elder, poems by Georg Schaller. Published in Frankfurt in 1592.

Amman, Jost; Bocksberger, Hans (der Ältere), Schaller, Georg: Thierbuch, Francfurt 1592 [VD16 S 2261]

After paging through lots of exotic animals, and ones from fables and legend, in the back were some very familiar looking birds.
In fact they look just like Turkeys! Only they are called "Indian Chickens" in the text.



Male - Indian Chicken


Female - Indian Chicken

Just for comparison, here are the depictions of chickens from the book,
Rooster and Hen

Here are the poems transcribed, but not translated.

Vom Indianischen Han

Das ist ein Indianisch han/
So gsträubelt sirst auff diesem Plan/
Manich Farben er tragen thut/
Zu essen sind sie trefflich gut/
Und ist nicht lang / dars in Teutschlandt/
Diser Vogel erst ward befannt.

Wie uns Wunsterus das erzehlt/
Für Fürsten essen man jhn helt
Die Farb am halb er endern fan/
Wenn mans nicht wil zu frieden lan/
Sondern erzörnt mit grosser Roth
Am gantzen halß er wirdt Blurot

Vonder Indianischen Henne

Hie stchet das Weiblein nach dem Han/
Welch (wie gehört) auß Indian
Herkommen/und in unsern Landen/
Vor grosser kält nicht viel vorhanden.
Drumb ben uns mit grossen bschwerden/
Und kostens viel/ erzongen werden.
Wenn sie hugert/schreit gar grewilich/
Deß Schnabels fleisch wirfft ubersich.
Lurnerus und Bellonius
Wöllen daß Melegrus/
Dieser Vogel genennet werd/
Weiler sein farb am halb verkehrt.

Comments

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

I like how it says the male is 'good eatin'! Are you looking to document turkeys for a feasat? If so, there's an Italian image showing a girl carrying a turkey in her basket.

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not looking to document it, at the moment, but someone else might be.

It was just something I ran across and thought "Hey, that's cool!"

[dame-eleanor.livejournal.com]

Most definitely cool! I knew they (the turkeys) has made to Europe by this time, but haven't seen many pictorial references. This is awesome! Thanks.

[ldyanna.livejournal.com]

Scappi has a couple of recipes for Pollanche d’India. And there is an 1500's Italian to English dictionary that translates Pollanche d’India into turkey.