1760 BRISSON, Mathurin Jacques (1723 – 1806)
Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés: a laquelle on a joint une description exacte de chaque espece, avec les citations des auteurs qui en ont traité, les noms quils leur ont donnés, ceux que leur ont donnés les différentes nations, & les noms vulgaires. 6 vols.
Title pages in both French and Latin. One of the earliest systematic treatises on birds by a contemporary of Linnaeus. The work treats 1336 species of which Brisson claimed to recognize more than 800 by sight. The pla…
GMN 13143 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15402
1766 HARRIS, Moses (1730 – 1788)
The Aurelian or natural history of English insects; namely, moths and butterflies.
Harris drew and engraved his own illustrations. The second edition (1778) was considerably expanded, and with four more plates than the first, for a total of 45. Some of the hand-colored copies were hand-colored by th…
GMN 10570 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12763
1767 CATESBY, Mark (1683 – 1749)
Hortus Europae americanus, or, A collection of 85 curious trees and shrubs: the produce of North America, adapted to the climates and soils of Great-Britain, Ireland, and most parts of Europe, &c together with their blossoms, fruits and seeds, observations on their culture, growth, constitution and virtues, with directions how to collect, pack up and secure them in their passage.
Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. First published as Hortus Britanno-Americanus (1763).
GMN 7679 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9851
1769 BANCROFT, Edward (1774 – 1821)
Essay on the natural history of Guiana, in South America. Containing a description of many curious productions in the animal and vegetable systems of that country. Together with an account of the religion, manners, and customs of several tribes of its Indian inhabitants. Interspersed with a variety of literary and medical observations. In several letters....
Bancroft was an English physician who lived for many years in South America. He noted the transmission of yaws by flies (p. 385 of his book). Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 5304 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/6554
1771 FORSTER, Johann Reinhold (1729 – 1798)
A catalogue of the animals of North America: Containing, an enumeration of the known quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, crustaceous and testaceous animals ... to which are added short directions for collecting, preserving, and transporting, all kinds of natural history curiosities.
Largely based on specimens he had access to from the British collections of Thomas Pennant and Anna Blackburne, this was Forster's attempt to systemize on the Linnean model the fragmented field of natural history stud…
GMN 11615 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13815
1771 BUC'HOZ, Pierre-Joseph (1731 – 1807)
Aldrovandus Lotharingiae, ou catalogue des animaux, quardupedes, reptiles, oseaux, poissons, insectes, vermisseaux et coquillages qui habitent la Lorraine et les Trois-Évechés.
A catalogue of "over 1100 quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, worms and mollusks native to Lorraine. Buc’hoz follows the classification schemes of Argenville, Brisson, Buffon, Daubenton and Geoffro…
GMN 13011 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15261
1772 LETTSOM, John Coakley (1744 – 1815)
The naturalist's and traveller's companion. Containing instructions for discovering and preserving objects of natural history....
Digital facsimile of the first edition from Google Books at this link. Digital facsimile of the corrected, enlarged, and more elegant second edition of 1774 from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7660 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9832
1777 OLDENDORP, Christian Georg Andreas (1721 – 1787)
Geschichte der Mission der Evangelischen Brüder auf den Caraibischen Inseln. Herausgegeben durch Johan Jakob Bossart. 2 vols.
Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 13452 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15726
1778 RYMSDYK, Jan van (Rijmsdijck, Riemsdyk, Remsdyke) (1730 – 1790); RYMSDYK, Andreas van (1754 – 1786)
Museum Britannicum : being an exhibition of a great variety of antiquities and natural curiosities, belonging to that noble and magnificent cabinet, the British Museum, illustrated with curious prints, engraved after the original designs, from nature, other objects: and with distinct explanations of each figure.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7662 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9834
1782 COBRES, Joseph Paul Edler von (1745 – 1823)
Deliciae Cobresianae. J. P. Cobres Büchersammlung zur Naturgeschichte. 2 vols.
Privately printed catalogue of Cobres’ natural history library, comprising descriptions, with collations and notes, of about 2500 books on botany, zoology, geology, etc. The catalogue is divided into subject sections …
GMN 11095 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13291
1784 –1812 MARTYN, Thomas (1760 – 1816)
[Vols I and II:] Figures of non-descript shells collected in the different voyages to the South Seas since the year 1764 ... [Vols III and IV:] The universal conchologist, exhibiting the figure of every known shell, accurately drawn and painted after nature: With a new systematic arrangement by the author.... 4 vols.
"The first two volumes, devoted to shells of the South Seas, were originally published as a separate work in 1784. Martyn then extended the work to four volumes with an additional 80 plates. ‘From the introduction to …
GMN 11742 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13942
1785 JEFFERSON, Thomas (1743 – 1826)
Notes on the State of Virginia; written in the year 1781, somewhat corrected and enlarged in the winter of 1782, for the use of a foreigner of distinction, in answer to certain queries proposed by him.
Jefferson wrote Notes on the State of Virginia in response to a series of questions sent in 1781 to various members of the Continental Congress by François Barbé-Marbois, then secretary to the French legation at Phila…
GMN 11450 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13649
1787 PARRA Y CALLADO, Antonio (1739 – )
Descripcion de diferentes piezas de historia natural las mas del ramo maritimo.
This catalogue of Carrbean fish was the first scientific treatise printed in Cuba and also the first illustrated book printed in Cuba. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 8026 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10202
1787 PARRA, Antonio (1737 – )
Descripcion de diferentes piezas de historia natura, las mas del ramo maritimo.
The first scientific book printed in Cuba. The striking illustrations are by the author's son, and depict fish, turtles, and crustacieans observed along the Cuban shoreline. The final section contains three alarming i…
GMN 13908 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16200
1790 –1811 BLUMENBACH, Johann Friedrich (1752 – 1840)
Beyträge zur Naturgeschichte. 2 pts.
English translation, London, 1865.
GMN 157 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/3182
1790 WHITE, John (1756 – 1832); STONE, Sarah (1760 – 1844)
Journal of a voyage to New South Wales with sixty five plates of non descript. animals, birds, lizards, serpents, curious cones of trees and other natural productions
This work described many Australian species for the first time. It includes natural history illustrations after watercolor paintings by Sarah Stone. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link
GMN 7366 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9538
1790 LEVER, Sir Ashton (1729 – 1788)
A companion to the museum, (Late Sir Ashton Lever's) removed to Albion Street, the Surry end of Black Friar's Bridge.
A room by room, case by case guide to Lever's celebrated museum of natural history and ethnography, authorshop of which is unidentified. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 7657 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9829
1790 CASTIGLIONI, Luigi (1757 – 1832)
Viaggio negli Stati Uniti dell' America settentrionale fatto negli anni 1785, 1786, e 1787. 2 vols.
Castiglioni was one of very few Italians to make the journey to America and to produce a detailed day-to-day account of his observations in the young country. His "Viaggio" is a systematic compendium of information dr…
GMN 11229 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13426
1791 BARTRAM, William (1739 – 1823)
Travels through North & South Carolina, George, East & West Florida, the Cherokee country, the extensive territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek confederacy, and the country of the Chactaws [sic]...
Digital facsimile of London, 1794 second edition from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7770 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9942
1792 –1813 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
The natural history of British insects; explaining them in their several states, with the periods of their transformations, their food, oeconomy, &c. Together with the history of such minute insects as require investigation by the microscope. The whole illustrated by coloured figures, designed and executed from living specimens. 16 vols.
Includes a total of 576 plates, of which 568 were colored.
GMN 9087 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11266
1794 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
Instructions for collecting and preserving various subjects of natural history; as animals, birds, reptiles, shells, corals, plants, &c. Together with A treatise on the management of insects in their several states; selected from the best authorities.
Digital text available from ECCO TCP Eighteenth Century Collections Online at this link.
GMN 7659 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9831
1794 –1819 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
The natural history of British birds; or, a selection of the most rare, beautiful and interesting birds which inhabit this country: The descriptions from the Systema naturae of Linnaeus; with general observations, either original or collected from the latest and most esteemed English ornithologists; and embellished with figures, drawn, engraved, and coloured from the original specimens. 10 vols.
The first 5 volumes were issued in monthly parts, each consisting of 2 plates and accompanying text. A volume came out each year between 1794 and 1798; the fifth volume stated: "This work being now completed." However…
GMN 9086 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11265
1796 –1800 BANKS, Sir Joseph (1743 – 1820); DRYANDER, Jonas Carlsson (1748 – 1810)
Catalogus bibliothecae historico-naturalis Josephi Banks, auctore Jona Dryander. 5 vols.
Digital facsimile of the 5 vols. from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 7093 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9260
1797 ABBOT, John (1751 – 1840); SMITH, Sir James Edward (1759 – 1828)
The natural history of the rarer lepidopterous insects of Georgia. Including their systematic characters, the particulars of their several metamorphoses, and the plants on which they feed. Collected from the observations of Mr. John Abbot, many years resident in that country, by James Edward Smith.
The earliest illustrated monograph on the butterflies and moths of North America. Text in English and French. 104 hand-colored plates. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7768 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9940
1797 –1800 AUDEBERT, Jean Baptiste (1759 – 1800)
Histoire naturelle des singes et des makis.
This work on monkeys and apes was published in a series of ten fascicules, with a total of 65 plates drawn and engraved by Audbert, and printed in color. Audebert was a miniaturist who developed a technique of color p…
GMN 11497 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13696
1798 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
An epitome of the natural history of the insects of China: Comprising figures and descriptions of upwards of one hundred new, singular, and beautiful species: together with some that are of importance in medicine, domestic economy, &c. The figures are accurately, drawn, engraved, and coloured, from speciemsn of the insects; the descriptions are arranged accordig to the system of Linnaeus, with references to the writings of Fabricius, and other systematic authors.
The first work in a Western language on the insects of China, including pharmaceutical aspects. For this work Donovan obtained specimens and information from George Macartney a British envoy to China. Includes 50 colo…
GMN 9082 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11261
1800 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
An epitome of the natural history of the insects of India, and the islands in the Indian seas: Comprising upwards of two hundred and fifty figures and descriptions of the most singular and beautiful species, selected chiefly from those recently discovered, and which have not appeared in the works of any preceding author. The figures are accurately drawn, engraved, and coloured, from specimens of the insects; the descriptions are arranged according to the system of Linnaeus; with references to the writings of Fabricius, and other systematic authors.
"For Insects of India Donovan described and figured specimens in his own cabinet, that were originally collected by the late Duchess of Portland, Marmaduke Tunstall, a Governor Holford (many years resident in India), …
GMN 9084 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11263
1801 AZARA, Felix de (1746 – 1821); MOREAU DE SAINT-MÉRY, Médéric Louis Élie (1750 – 1819)
Essais sur l'histoire naturelle des quadupedes de la province du Paraguay...Ecrits depuis 1783 jusqu'en 1796 (an 4 de la Republique Française); Avec une appendice sur quelques reptiles, en formant suite nécessaire aux Oeuvres de Buffon; Traduits sur le manuscrit inédit de l'auteur par M. L. E. Moreau-Saint-Méry.
Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. Published as Apuntamientos par ala historia natural de los Páxaros del Paragüay y Rio de la Plata. 2 vols. Madrid: La Imprenta de la Viuda de Ibarra, …
GMN 13453 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15727
1805 HUMBOLDT, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von (1769 – 1859); BONPLAND, Aimé Jacques Alexandre (1773 – 1858)
Essai sur la géographie des plantes; accompagné d’un tableau physique des régions équinoxiales.
One of the first works on the geographical distribution of plants. Humboldt was a pioneer student of geographical–ecological plant associations. The sheets of this work were reissued as Vol. I of the authors' Voyage a…
GMN 145.55 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2459
1807 –1834 HUMBOLDT, Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von (1769 – 1859); BONPLAND, Aimé Jacques Alexandre (1773 – 1858)
Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du nouveau continent, fait en 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804. 34 vols.
In 1799 Humboldt and Bonpland embarked on a six-year tour of research through South America and Mexico, a trip which would afterwards be called, justifiably, "the scientific discovery of America." The two amassed exha…
GMN 7452 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9624
1807 –1817 FREYCINET, Louis Claude de Caulces de (1779 – 1841); PÉRON, François (1775 – 1810); LESUEUR, Charles Alexandre (1778 – 1846); PETIT, Nicolas-Martin (1777 – 1804); BAUDIN, Nicolas Thomas (1754 – 1803)
Voyage de découvertes aux Terres Australes exécuté par ordre de sa Majesté, l'Empereur et Roi, sur les corvettes le Géographe, le Naturaliste, et la goëllette le Casuarina pendant les années 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804 ...rédigé par Péron et continue par M. L. de Freycinet. (Atlas par MM. Lesueur et Petit.) Historique. 3 vols & Atlas, containing 38 plates, 15 maps.
Vol. 1. Historique, by François Péron. 1807 Vol. 2. Historique [by Francois Péron, completed by L. de Freycinet] 1816. Vol. 3. Navigation et géographie, [by L. Freycinet.] 1815. Atlas historique [by C. A. Leseur & N. …
GMN 11904 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14109
1808 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
Catalogue of the principal objects of curiosity [in the collection of Edward Donovan] contained in the London Museum and Institute of Natural History, Catherine Street, Strand, now open to the inspection of the public.
GMN 7685 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9857
1808 –1814 WILSON, Alexander (1766 – 1813); ORD, George
American ornithology; or, the natural history of the birds of the United States: Illustrated with plates engraved and colored from original drawings taken from nature. 9 vols.
Considered the "father of American ornithology," Wilson was the greatest American ornithologist before Audubon. Wilson died with the 7th volume in press, and the 8th and 9th volumes were completed by Wilson's friend G…
GMN 9498 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11683
1809 DESCOURTILZ, Michel Étienne (1777 – 1835)
Voyages d'un Naturaliste, et ses observations. Faites sur les trois règnes de la Nature, dans plusieurs ports de mer français, en Espagne, au continent de l'Amerique septentrionale, à Saint-Yago de Cuba, et à St.-Domingue, où l'Auteur devenu le prisonnier de 40,000 Noirs révoltés, et par suite mis en liberté par une colonne de l'armée française, donne des détails circonstanciés sur l'expédition du général Leclerc. Dédiés à ... le Comte de Lacépède. 3 vols.
One of the more unusually titled travel accounts including the mention that "the author became the prisoner of 40,000 black revolutionaries, and was rescued by the French army." "Following his marriage to the daughter…
GMN 12827 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15073
1814 PURSH, Frederick Traugott (1774 – 1820)
Flora Americae septentrionalis; or, a systematic arrangement and description of the plants of North America. Containing, besides what have been described by preceding authors, many new and rare species, collected during twelve years travels and residence in that country. 2 vols.
The first survey of all plants of North America above Mexico, including more than 3,000 species and 470 genera; describes more than 100 species collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Digital facsimile from Botan…
GMN 7876 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10048
1815 DRAKE, Daniel (1785 – 1852)
Natural and statistical view, or picture of Cincinnati and the Miami country, illustrated by maps: With an appendix, containing observations on the late earthquakes, the aurora borealis, and south-west wind.
Modeled on Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, this work covered the geography, antiquities, topography, medical conditions and goverment of Ohio. Digital facsimile from digital.cincinnatilibrary.org at…
GMN 11520 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13719
1816 –1830 CUVIER, Georges-Frédéric "Frédéric" (1773 – 1838)
Dictionnaire des sciences naturelles, dans lequel on traite méthodiquement des différens êtres de la nature, considérés soit en eux-mêmes, d'après l'état actuel de nos connoissances, soit relativement à l'utilité qu'en peuvent retirer la médecine, l'agriculture, le commerce et les artes. Suivi d'une biographie des plus célèbres naturalistes....Par plusieurs professeurs du Jardin du Roi, et des principales écoles de Paris. 60 vols. "M. F. Cuvier est chargé de la direction générale de l'ouvrage."
"M. F. Cuvier est chargé de la direction générale de l'ouvrage." Digital facsimile from commons.wikipedia.org at this link.
GMN 13375 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15646
1817 –1848 OKEN, Lorenz (1779 – 1851)
Isis, oder encyclopädische Zeitung (verzüglich für Naturgeschichte, vergleichende Anatomie und Physiologie), VON OKEN. 41 vols.
Lorenz Oken, a leading light in the Nature-Philosophical School in Germany, produced important work in the field of biology. He founded the journal Isis, which published articles of great value; its incursion into the…
GMN 107 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8787
1820 –1823 SWAINSON, William John (1789 – 1855)
Zoological illustrations, or, original figures and descriptions of new, rare, or interesting animals, selected chiefly from the classes of ornithology, entomology, and conchology, and arranged on the principles of Cuvier and other modern zoologists. 3 vols.
"Apart from the common and scientific names of many species, it is for the quality of his illustrations that he [Swainson] is best remembered. His friend William Elford Leach, head of zoology at the British Museum, en…
GMN 9197 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11378
1821 NUTTALL, Thomas (1786 – 1859)
A journal of travels into the Arkansas territory, during the year 1819. With occasional observations on the manners of the aborigines. Illustrated by a map and other engravings.
Nuttall travelled from Philadelphia, down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Arkansas. From there he travelled across Arkansas to the interior of the modern Oklahoma; returning via the Arkansas and Mississippi riv…
GMN 7772 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9944
1824 –1828 SAY, Thomas (1787 – 1834)
American entomology, or descriptions of the insects of North America. Illustrated by coloured figures from original drawings executed from nature. 3 vols.
Plates by Titian Ramsay Peale, H. Bridport, C. A. Lesueur, W. W. Wood, and C. Tiebout; engraved by Tiebout, G. Lang, and Longacre. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 9484 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11668
1826 –1838 DUPERREY, Louis Isidore (1786 – 1865); LESSON, René Primevère (1794 – 1849); DUMONT D'URVILLE, Jules Sébastien César (1790 – 1842); GARNOT, Prosper (1794 – 1838)
Voyage autour du monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la corvette de Sa Majesté, la Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825. 6 vols. plus 4 atlases.
Duperrey undertook this circumnavigation under the sponsorship of the French Minister of Marine, to study terrestrial magnetism and meteorology, and to confirm or correct the position of islands and landmarks that wer…
GMN 10437 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12630
1826 GRIFFITH, Mary (1772 – 1846)
Observations on the May-Bug, and its ravages on plum and other trees, and also on the means of preventing the mischief.
Griffth was probably the first American woman to publish in the sciences outside of materia medica and childcare. This article was probably her earliest non-geological publication. See Robt S. Cox, "A spontaneous flow…
GMN 11415 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13614
1827 –1834 GOEBEL, Karl Christian Traugott Friedemann (1794 – 1851); KUNZE, Gustav (1793 – 1851); SCHENK, Ernst
Pharmaceutische Waarenkunde mit illuminirten Kupfern nach der Natur gezeichnet von Ernst Schenk. Begonnen von Friedemann Goebel. Fortgesetzt von Gustav Kunze. 14 parts in 2 vols.
GMN 9545 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11731
1830 –1845 CALLISEN, Adolph Carl Peter (1787 – 1866)
Medicinisches Schriftsteller-Lexicon der jetzt lebenden Aerzte, Wundärzte, Geburtschelfer, Apotheker, und Naturforscher aller gebildeten Völker. 33 vols.
In 25 vols. and and 8-vol. supplement, Callisen’s great medical bibliography of writings by physicians, surgeons, obstetricians, pharmacists, and naturalists then living gives a complete view of the literature of the …
GMN 6754 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8171
1830 –1836 SAY, Thomas (1787 – 1834)
American conchology, or descriptions of the shells of North America illustrated from coloured figures from original drawings executed from nature. 7 parts. Parts 1–6: New Harmony, 1830–1834; Part 7: Philadelphia, 1836.
The printer or publisher of part 7 is not identified. Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 9485 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11669
1832 –1834 NUTTALL, Thomas (1786 – 1859)
A manual of the ornithology of the United States and of Canada. Vol. 1: The land birds. Vol. 2: The water birds.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7773 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9945
1832 AELIANUS, Claudius [Κλαύδιος Αἰλιανός] (175 – 235); JACOBS, Friedrich (1764 – 1847)
Aeliani de natura animalium libri septemdecim. Verba ad fidem librorum manuscriptorum constituit et annotationibus illustravit Fridericus Jacobs.
The first modern critical edition of the text, which collated medieval manuscripts against the previous printed editions. Digital facsimile of the 1832 edition from the Internet Archive at this link
GMN 8951 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11130
1832 LEAR, Edward (1812 – 1888)
Illustrations of the family of Psittacidæ, or parrots: The greater part of them species hitherto unfigured, containing forty-two lithographic plates, drawn from life, and on stone.
For this work Lear drew portraits of mostly live specimens directly on stone, creating artistic masterpieces that established his reputation as a natural history painter. Lear issued only 175 copies and ran out of fun…
GMN 13354 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15625
1833 –1866 JARDINE, Sir William (1800 – 1874)
The naturalist's library. Edited by Sir William Jardine. 40 vols.
"1833, Natural History of Humming Birds, Part I, (Ornithology Vol. VI) by William Jardine, with memoir of Carl Linnaeus. (online) 1833, Monkeys, (Mammalia Vol. I) by William Jardine, with a memoir of Comte de Buffon (…
GMN 10177 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12366