1565 GESNER, Conrad [Konrad Gessner] (1516 – 1565); KENTMANN, Johannes (1518 – 1574)
De omni rerum fossilium genere, gemmis, lapidibus, metallis, et huiusmodi, libri aliquote, plerique nunc primum editi.
A collection of eight separate tracts, most with their own title page, by seven authors, all edited, and some with commentary by Gesner. The work is relevant for the history of "natural history" for containing Kentman…
GMN 11490 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13689
1584 CALCEOLARI, Francesco (Calzolari) (1522 – 1609); OLIVA, Giovanni Battista (Olivi)
De reconditis et praecipuis collectaneis ab honestissimo et solertissimo Francisco Calceolario Veronensi in Musaeo adservatis, Joannis Baptistae Olivi medici testificatio.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 7555 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9727
1599 –1667 ALDROVANDI, Ulisse [ALDROVANDUS] (1522 – 1605)
Opera omnia. 13 vols.
Aldrovandi, first director of the botanical garden at Bologna, was a prolific writer. Some of his writings made their first appearance in print after his death. He designed them as a whole to form an enormous illustra…
GMN 290 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8831
1599 IMPERATO, Ferrante (1525 – 1615)
Dell'historia naturale di Ferrante Imperato napolitano Libri XXVIII. Nella quale ordinatamente si tratta della diversa condition di miniere, e pietre. Con alcune historie di piante et animali; sin hora non date in luce.
The famous illustration of Imperato's museum or "cabinet of curiosities" published in this work was the first pictorial representation of the natural history research collection formed by Renaissance humanist". The co…
GMN 7553 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9725
1609 CONSTANT, Paul (1562 – 1629)
Le iardin, et cabinet poetique de Paul Contant, apoticaire de Poictiers.
Written in verse, this is the first catalogue of a private botanical garden published in France, and the first book that could be called a French catalogue of a natural history museum. Digital facsimile from the Inter…
GMN 11505 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13704
1613 BESLER, Basilius (1561 – 1629)
Hortus Eystettensis: Sive, diligens et accurata omnium plantarum, florum, stirpium, ex variis orbis terrae partibus, singulari studio collectarum, quae in celeberrimis viridariis arcem episcopalem ibidem cingentibus, hoc tempore conspiciuntur, delineatio et aduiuum repræsentatio.
"The Hortus Eystettensis is itself a ‘paper museum’, a pictorial record of the flowers grown in the greatest German garden of its time, that of the Prince Bishop of Eichstätt, Johann Conrad von Gemmingen. As part of a…
GMN 9512 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11697
1616 –1622 BESLER, Basilius (1561 – 1629)
Fasciculus rariorum et aspectu dignorum varii generis quae collegit et suis impensis aeri ad vivum incidi curavit atque evulgavit.
Besler was the first to illustrate a natural history Wunderkammer in Germany. The engraved frontispiece of this work, which Besler published himself, depicts Besler exhibiting the contents to a visitor. The first edit…
GMN 11498 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13697
1622 CERUTI, Benedetto ( – 1620); CHIOCCO, Andrea ( – 1624); CALCEOLARI, Francesco (Calzolari) (1522 – 1609)
Musaeum Franc. Calceolari Jun. Veronensis, a Benedicto Ceruto, medico, inceptum, et ab Andrea Chiocco, med. physico, descriptum et perfectum.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7554 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9726
1622 BESLER, Basilius (1561 – 1629)
Continuatio rariorum et aspectu dignorum varii generis quae collegit et suis impensis aeri ad vivum indici curavit atque evulgavit....
This was the second edition, with 7 additional plates, of the privately printed catalogue of the natural history collection or museum of the Nuremberg botanist Basilius Besler, author of Hortus Eystettensis (1613). Th…
GMN 7574 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9746
1628 CONSTANT, Jacques ( – 1588); CONSTANT, Paul (1562 – 1629)
Les oeuvres de Jacques et Paul Contant pere et fils maistres apoticaires de la ville de Poictiers. Divisées en cinq traictez. 1. Les commentaires sur Dioscoride. 2. Le second Eden. 3. Exagoge mirabilium naturae e gazophylacio. 4. Synopsis plantarum cum ethymologiis. 5. Le jardin & cabinet poëtique ....
Jacques and Paul Contant were Huguenot apothecaries in Poitiers, and notable collectors. There were among the first in France to assemble a cabinet of curiosities or Wunderkammer. The first work, a commentary on Diosc…
GMN 11499 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13698
1642 ALDROVANDI, Ulisse [ALDROVANDUS] (1522 – 1605); AMBROSINI, Bartolomeo (1588 – 1657)
Monstrorum historia cum Paralipomenis historiae omnium animalium Bartholomaeus Ambrosinus… volumen composuit.
Aldrovandi assembled a large collection of specimens and notes on monsters which were published posthumously by Ambrosini, who added a number of personally observed cases. Those included the first detailed description…
GMN 534.53 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/1802
1648 ALDROVANDI, Ulisse [ALDROVANDUS] (1522 – 1605)
Musaeum metallicum in libros IIII distributum Bartholomaeus Ambrosinus ... labore, et studio composuit cum indice copiosissimo.
Digital facsimile from the University of Bologna at this link.
GMN 7557 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9729
1655 WORM, Ole (1588 – 1654)
Museum Wormianum, seu, historia rerum rariorum: tam naturalium, quam artificialium, tam domesticarum, quam exoticarum, quae Hafniae Danorum in aedibus authoris servantur.
Edited for publication by Worm's son, Willum Worm. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7551 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9723
1656 MOSCARDO, Lodovico (1596 – 1672)
Note overo memorie del museo di Lodovico Moscardo....Nel primo si disorre delle cose antiche, le quali in detto museo si trouano. Nel secondo delle petre, minerali, e terre. Nel terzo de corali, conchiglie, animali, frutti, & altre cose in quello contenute.
Moscardo's museum contained natural history specimens, archeological remains, and ethnographic objects. Around 1642 Moscardo acquired a portion of the collection of Francesco Calceolari and added it to his museum. Dig…
GMN 8861 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11039
1656 WHARTON, Thomas (1614 – 1673); TRADESCANT, John The Elder (1575 – 1638); TRADESCANT, John the Younger (1608 – 1662); ASHMOLE, Elias (1617 – 1692)
Musaeum Tradescantianum: Or, a collection of rarities preserved at South-Lambeth neer London by John Tradescant.
Catalogue of the first natural museum in England, the collection made by John Tradescant the Elder and the Younger, and left by John Tradescant the Younger to Elias Ashmole, who, along with Thomas Wharton, helped the …
GMN 13071 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15323
1663 FUIREN, Thomas (1623 – 1675)
Rariora musaei Henrici Fuiren medicinae doctoris quae Academie Regiae Hafniensi legavit.
GMN 13818 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16107
1664 TERZAGO, Paolo Maria (1625 – 1695)
Musaeum Septalianum Manfredi Septalae.
"... description of the museum formed by Lodovico Settala, a physician of Milan, and his son, Manfredo, a Canon of the Cathedral. It describes their collections of both artifical and natural curiosities, including pla…
GMN 13919 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16213
1674 OLEARIUS, Adam (1599 – 1671)
Gottorffische Kunst-Kammer: worinnen allerhand ungemeine Sachen, so theils die Natur, theils künstliche Hände hervor gebracht und bereitet : vor diesem aus allen vier Theilen der Welt zusammen getragen, und vor einigen Jahren beschrieben, auch mit behörigen Kupffern gezieret.
First published in 1666. Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library, Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7575 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9747
1677 ALDROVANDI, Ulisse [ALDROVANDUS] (1522 – 1605); LEGATI, Lorenzo ( – 1675); COSPI, Fernando (1606 – 1686)
Museo Cospiano: annesso a quello del famoso Vlisse Aldrovandi e donato alla sua patria dall' illustrissimo signor Ferdinando Cospi ..., fra' gli Accademici Gelati il Fedele, e principe al presente de' medesimi.
As the title indicates, the Cospi collection incorporated the earlier museum of Ulisse Aldrovandi, and Legati's catalogue is sometimes regarded as forming a 14th or supplementary volume to Aldrovandi's encyclopedic Op…
GMN 7572 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9744
1678 KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602 – 1680)
Romani Collegii Societatis Jesu Musaeum celeberrimum.
The first catalogue of Kircher's museum collected by Kircher at the Jesuit College in Rome between 1651 and 1680. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 13920 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16214
1681 GREW, Nehemiah (1641 – 1712)
Musaeum Regalis Societatis, or a catalogue and description of the natural and artificial rarities belonging to the Royal Society and preserved at Gresham College. Whereunto is subjoyned the comparative anatomy of stomachs and guts.
Grew, secretary to the Royal Society, compiled this illustrated catalogue of its museum, then housed at Gresham College. Published with the catalogue is Grew’s study of the stomach organs, which is the first zoologica…
GMN 297 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8845
1691 RUYSCH, Frederik (1638 – 1731)
Observationum anatomico-chirurgicarum centuria. Accedit catalogus rariorum quae in Museo Ruyschiano asservantur.
Includes Ruysch's catalogue of the extent of his medical museum in 1691. Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 7579 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9751
1692 DU MOLINET, Claude (1620 – 1687)
Le cabinet de la Bibliothèque de Sainte-Geneviève. Divisé en deux parties. Contenant les antiquitez de la religion des Chrétiens, des Egyptiens, & des Romains, des tombeaux, des poids & des medailles; des monnoyes, des pierres antiques gravées, & des minéraux; des talismans, des lampes antiques, des animaux les plus rares et les plus singuliers, des coquilles les plus considérables, des fruits étrangers, & quelques plantes exquises.
Father Du Molinet's "cabinet" incorporated the major part of Fabri de Peiresc's collection. The first part of this work, extensively illustrated with engravings, described antiquities: Christian, Egyptian and Roman; f…
GMN 12982 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15230
1693 SPENER, Johann Jacob; MICHAELIS, Johann Martin
Museum Spenerianum, sive Catalogus Rerum tam artificiosarum, quam naturalium, tam antiquarum, quam recentium, tam exoticarum, quam domesticarum, quas Johannes Jacobus Spener in Academia Hallensi dum viveret, singulari industria & indefesso labore paravit atque collegit. Das Spenerische Cabinet, Oder Kurtze Beschreibung Aller So wol künstlich- als natürlicher, alter, als neuer, fremder, als einheimischer curiösen Sachen. Compiled by Johann Martin Michaelis.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 8574 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10751
1696 JACOBAEUS, Oliger (Holger Jacobi) (1650 – 1701)
Museum regium, seu, Catalogus rerum tam naturalium, quam artificialium, quae in basilica bibliothecae augustissimi Daniae Norvegiaeq[ue] monarchae Christiani Quinti, Hafniae asservantur.
Catalogue of the museum of Christian V, King of Denmark by Jacobaeus, physician, traveller, and writer. Digital facsimile from Getty Research Institute, Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7580 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9752
1698 BLANKEN, Gerard
Catalogus van alle de principaalste rariteiten die op de anatomie-kamer binnen de stadt Leyden vertoont werden.
This was the first published catalogue of the anatomical museum of the University of Leiden. Several later editions of this version were published in Dutch; a later edition was compiled by Franciscus Schuyl (No. 11314…
GMN 7636 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9808
1701 –1715 RUYSCH, Frederik (1638 – 1731)
Thesaurus anatomicus primus [-decimus]... Het eerste [-tiende] anatomisch cabinet....
Probably the most original artist in the history of anatomical preparations, Ruysch enjoyed making up elaborate three-dimensional emblems of mortality from his specimens. These fantastic, dream-like concoctions constr…
GMN 389 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/623
1704 VALENTINI, Michael Bernhard (1657 – 1729)
Museum museorum, oder, Vollständige Schau-Bühne aller Materialien und Specereyen : nebst deren natürlichen Beschreibung, Election, Nutzen und Gebrauch, aus andern Material-, Kunst- und Naturalien-Kammern, Oost-und-West-Indischen Reisz-Beschreibungen, Curiosen Zeit- und Tag-Registern, Natur- und Artzney-Kündigern, wie auch selbst-eigenen Erfahrung, zum Vorschub der Studirenden Jugend, Materialisten, Apothecker, und deren visitatoren, wie auch anderer Künstler, als Jubelirer, Mahler, Färber, u.s.w. also verfasset, und mit etlich hundert sauberen Kupfferstücken unter Augen geleget
Of particular value for reprinting many early museum catalogues. The second edition issued in 1714 reissued the first volume together with a second and third volume. Digital facsimile of the 1704 first edition from th…
GMN 7577 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9749
1706 VINCENT, Levinus (1658 – 1727)
Wondertooneel der nature, geopent in eene korte beschryvinge der hoofddeelen van de byzondere zeldsaamheden daar in begrepen; in orde gebragt en bewaart.
Catalogue of the collection of natural history commenced by Anthony Breda and considerably enriched and expanded by his brother-in-law Levinus Vincent, a merchant of luxurious textiles. Digital facsimile from the Biod…
GMN 13921 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16215
1709 KIRCHER, Athanasius (1602 – 1680); BONANNI, Filippo [BUONANNI] (1638 – 1723)
Musaeum Kircherianum sive musaeum a P. Athanasio Kirchero in Collegio Romano Societatis Jesu iam pridem incoeptum nuper restitutum, auctum descriptum, & iconibus illustratum....a Philippo Bonanni.
Extensively illustrated catalogue by Bonanni of the Musaeum Kircherianum, formed in the mid-17th century by the Jesuit polymath, Athanasius Kircher, and housed in the Jesuit Collegio Romano. Reflective of Kircher's po…
GMN 12991 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15240
1710 WARLITZ, Christian (1648 – 1717); NICOLAI, Christian
Museum curiosum auctum Oder Neu-Verbesserte Beschreibung Derer raren und Ausländischen Sachen...Bey Tit. Herrn Christian Nicolai.
Description of the cabinet of Wittenberg apothecary Christian Nicolai by Christian Warlitz, professor of medicine at Wittenberg. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 7576 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9748
1716 BESLER, Basilius (1561 – 1629); LOCHNER, Johann Heinrich (1696 – 1715); LOCHNER, Michael Friedrich (1662 – 1720); BESLER, Michael Rupert (1607 – 1661)
Rariora Musei Besleriani quae olim Basilius et Michael Rupertus Besleri collegerunt, aenesique tabulis ad vivum incisa evulgarunt: nunc commentariolo illustrata a Johanne Henrico Lochnero…
The most complete description of the natural history museum of Basilius Besler and his nephew Michael Rupert. It contains the first descriptive commentary of the collection, with 40 engraved plates. The Besler collect…
GMN 8860 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11038
1717 LANCISI, Giovanni Maria (1654 – 1720); MERCATI, Michele (1541 – 1593)
Metallotheca opus posthumum, auctoritate, & munificentia Clementis undecimi pontificis maximi e tenebris in lucem eductum; opera autem, & studio Ioannis Mariae Lancisii archiatri pontificii illustratum.
In 1717 papal physician Giovanni Maria Lancisi published the catalogue of the Vatican "armaria" series housing the natural history museum collected by one of his predecessors at the Vatican, the 16th century papal phy…
GMN 11515 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13714
1718 SPENER, Christian Maximilian (1678 – 1714)
Catalogus zahlreicher, nützlicher, und sonderbahrer von Natur- und Kunst gebildeter Seltenheiten, in Regno Animali, Vegetabili, und Minerali, welche ehemals mit grosser Mühe, langer Zeit und schweren Kosten gesammelt, und zusammen gebracht hat.
GMN 8575 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10752
1721 SCHUYL, Franciscus
Catalogus rerum memorabilium quae in theatro anatomico academia, quae Lugduni Batavorum floret, demonstantur per Franciscum Schuyl.
Numerous editions and translations of the catalogue of the anatomical museum of the University of Leiden were published, probably to supply the needs of medical students from various countries. Digital facsimile of th…
GMN 11314 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13512
1725 ALBINUS, Bernhard Siegfried (1697 – 1770); RAU, Johannes Jacob (1668 – 1719)
Index supellectilis anatomicae quam Academia Batavae quae Leidae est legativ vir clarissimus Johannes Jacobus Rau...confectus a Bernhardo Seigried Albino.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 11298 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13495
1726 KUNDMANN, Johann Christian (1684 – 1751)
Promtuarium rerum naturalium et artificalium Vratislaviense.
Digitall facsimile from the Bayerische StaatsBibliothek at this link.
GMN 7578 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9750
1726 MARSILI, Luigi Ferdinando [MARSIGLI] (1658 – 1730)
Danubius pannonico-mysicus, observationibus geographicis, astronomicis, hydrographicis, historicis, physicis perlustratus et in sex tomos digestus. 6 vols.
An extensive illustrated work, with 283 copperplate engravings, on the natural history of the Danube river, the longest river in central Europe, which runs from southern Germany into Austria, through Slovakia, Hungary…
GMN 12958 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15205
1734 –1765 SEBA, Albertus (1665 – 1736)
Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio et iconibus artificiosissmis expressio per universam physices historiam. 4 vols.
With 4 folio volumes this is probably the most elaborate catalogue of a private natural history museum, wunderkammer, or cabinet of curiosities ever published. The text is printed in Latin and Dutch. The work includes…
GMN 7485 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9657
1736 VATER, Abraham (1684 – 1751)
Regii in academia ad Albim musei anatomici Augustei catalogus universalis praeparata anatomica Ruyschiana variorumque celeberrimorum auctorum tam sicca, quam in liquore contenta foetus, monstra, sceleta et artefacta exhibens. Cum oratione de museis....Abrahamus Vater.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 11319 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13517
1740 ROTTERDAM ANATOMICAL THEATRE
Catalogus ofte naamlyst der voornaamste zaken, dewelke op de anatomie-kamer der stadt Rotterdam te zien zyn.
Catalogue of the cabinet of curiosities of the anatomical theatre of Rotterdam, founded in 1642. Although anatomy theatres were originally established to teach anatomy and medical and surgical techniques to students a…
GMN 13098 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15350
1742 GUALTIERI, Niccoló (1688 – 1744)
Index testarum conchyliorum quae adservantur in Museo Nicolai Gualtieri ... et methodice distributae exhibentur tabulae CX.
The beautiful catalogue of the shell collection formed by Gualtieri, physician to Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany in his "museum." Many of the shells are depicted standing on their apices, and are depicted from two …
GMN 11741 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13941
1743 HEBENSTREIT, Johann Ernest (1703 – 1757)
Museum Richterianum continens fossilia animalia, vegetabilia marina.
Catalogue of the cabinet of curiosities formed by the merchant and collector Johann Richter. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 13922 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16216
1746 BAILLOU, Johann Ritter von (Giovanni Baillou; Jean Baillou) (1679 – 1758); SAINT-LAURENT, Joannon de (1746 – )
Description abregée du fameux cabinet de Mr. Le Chevalier de Baillou pour servir à l'histoire naturelle des pierres précieuses, métaux, minéraux, et autre fossiles.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 7573 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9745
1754 –1764 LINNAEUS, Carl (Linné) (1707 – 1778)
Hans Maj:ts Adolf Frideriks vår allernådigste konungs naturalie samling innehållande sällsynte och främmande djur, som bevaras på kongl. lust-slottet Ulriksdahl beskrefne och afrit. Museum Adolfi Friderici ... in quo animalia rariora imprimis, et exotica: Quadrupedia, aves, amphibia, pisces, insecta, vermis. Vol. 2: Museum S:ae R:ae M:tis Adolphi Friderici Regis Svecorum, Gothorum, Vandalorumque &c. &c. &c. in quo Animalia rariora imprimis & exotica: Aves, Amphibia, Piscis describuntur. Tomi secundi Prodromus.
Linnaeus's study of the royal natural history collections was important because to a considerable extent they formed the basis for his knowledge of animals. The collections contain many type specimens for animals desc…
GMN 9558 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11744
1758 TURGOT, Étienne-François
Mémoire instructif sur la manière de rassembler, de preparer, de conserver, et d’envoyer les diverses curiosités d’histoire naturelle; auquel ... Avis pour le transport par mer, des arbres, des plantes vivaces, des semences, & diverse autres curiosités d'histoire naturelle.
An illustrated guide to taxidermy and the preparation of natural history specimens, probably the first taxidermy manual published in French. The twenty-five folding engravings, the majority by amateur engraver and pas…
GMN 13102 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15354
1760 WESTPHAL, Andreas (1720 – 1788)
Verzeichnis der Práparaten welche auf dem anatomischen Theater der Akademie zu Greifswald befindlich sich nebst einer Vorrede von dem Einfluß der Zergliederungskunst in die glückseligkeit eines Staats.
First printed catalogue of the anatomical preparations in the Anatomical Theatre and Institute directed by the professor of anatomy, Andreas Westphal.
GMN 13238 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15503
1766 SOLDO, Mauro (Soldi)
Descrizione degl'instrumenti, delle macchine, e delle suppellettili raccolte ad uso chirurgico e medico dal P. Don Ippolito Rondinelli...
Catalogue of the private museum of surgical and medical instruments established by Father Ippolito Rondinelli in Ravenna, which Soldo described as “the first museum of medicine and surgery.” Extensively illustrasted. …
GMN 7808 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9980
1767 ROMÉ DE L'ISLE, Jean-Baptiste Louis (1736 – 1790); DÁVILA, Pedro Franco (1711 – 1788)
Catalogue systématique et raisonné des curiosités de la nature et de l’art, qui composent le cabinet de M. Davila, avec figures en taille-douce. 3 vols.
Describes 8,096 mineral specimens from a wide range places, including a suite of specimens from Potosí, Bolivia, as well as many items from Canada, Mexico, and Paraguay. The catalog also lists 5,253 shells, 600 preser…
GMN 12880 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15127
1771 ALBINUS, Bernhard Siegfried (1697 – 1770)
Index supellectilis anatomicae: Rerum anatomicarum; tum phialis onctentarum In liquore limpido, Tum exsiccatarum. Quam suos In usus summa cum peritia atque dexteritate confecit...Bernard Siegfried Albinus
An listing of 431 medical museum specimens, including those preserved in liquid as well as dried specimens, prepared for their sale. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 11299 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13496
