1551 BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)
L'histoire naturelle des estranges poissons marins, avec la vraie peincture & description du daulphin, & de plusieurs autres de son espece.
This, Belon’s first biological work, is regarded as the earliest modern scientific work in the field of comparative anatomy. Finely illustrated with woodcuts. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 278 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8813
1553 BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)
De aquatilibus, libri duo cum [epsilon] [iota] conibus ad viuam ipsorum effigiem, quoad eius fieri potuit, expressis.
Considerably expanded from Belon's work of 1551. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 279 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8814
1553 BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)
Les observations de plusieurs singularitez et choses memorables, trouuées en Grece, Asie, Iudée, Egypte, Arabie, & autres pays estranges, redigées en trois livres.
Belon was first trained as an apothecary, and worked in that capacity for the bishop of Clermont, Guillaume Duprat. Around 1542 he studied medicine In Paris, and obtained a licentiate in medicine, though he never took…
GMN 8982 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11161
1554 SALVIANI, Hippolito (1514 – 1572)
Aquatilium animalium historiae. Liber primus cum eorumdem formis aere excusis.
Salviani taught at the University of Rome until 1568, after which he was chief physician to the House of Farnese and three successive popes, Pope Julius III, Pope Marcellus II and Pope Paul IV. "Salviani’s work was pu…
GMN 13119 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15375
1555 BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)
L'histoire de la nature des oyseaux, avec leurs descriptions, et naïfs portraicts retirez du naturel escrite en sept livres.
Belon’s book on birds is well illustrated, including plates of the skeletons of man and bird side by side and in the same posture, to compare them bone for bone. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 283 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8819
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
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
1650 –1653 JONSTON, John [Jan] (1603 – 1675)
Historiae naturalis de quadrupetibus libri: Cum aeneis figuris; [Historiae naturalis de serpentibus libri II; Historiae naturalis de insectis libri III; Historiae naturalis de exanguibus aquaticis libri IV; Historiae naturalis de piscibus et cetis libri V; Historiae naturalis de avibus libri VI].
This work, which was a major expansion and reworking of material that Jonston originally outlined in his Thaumatographia naturalis (1632), was both illustrated and published by Matthäus Merian. Digital facsimile from …
GMN 13025 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15275
1707 –1725 SLOANE, Sir Hans (1660 – 1753)
A voyage to the islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica: With the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those islands; to which is prefix'd, an introduction, wherein is an account of the inhabitants, air, waters, diseases, trade, &c. of that place, with some relations concerning the neighbouring continent, and islands of America. Illustrated with figures of the things described, which have not been heretofore engraved. In large copper-plates as big as the life. 2 vols.
As a youth Sloane collected objects of natural history and other curiosities. This led him to the study of medicine, which he went to London, where he studied botany, materia medica, surgery and pharmacy. His collecti…
GMN 9914 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12102
1719 MERIAN, Maria Sibylla (1647 – 1717)
Mariæ Sibillæ Merian Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium: In quâ, præter vermes et erucas Surinamenses, earumque admirandam metamorphosin, plantæ, flores & fructus, quibus vescuntur, & quibus fuerunt inventæ, exhibentur. His adjunguntur bufones, lacerti, serpentes, araneæ, aliaque admiranda istius regionis animalcula
Originally as Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium. Amsterdam, 1705. The 1719 contains 12 additional plates and corresponding text, 10 provided by the author's daughters from material left at her death, and 2 suppli…
GMN 13450 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15724
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
1754 RENARD, Louis (1678 – 1746)
Poissons, écrevisses et crabes, de diverse couleurs et figures extraordinaires, que l'on trouve autour des Isles Moluques, et sur les côtes des Terres Australes....
"This extraordinary work purports to show marine life from the seas around Indonesia at a time when the natural wildlife of that area was virtually unknown in Europe. Renard, both a publisher and a spy for the British…
GMN 13783 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16070
1756 BROWNE, Patrick (1720 – 1790)
The civil and natural history of Jamaica. In three parts, containing 1. An accurate description of that Island, its situation and soil; with a brief account of its former and present state, government, revenues, produce, and trade. II. A history of the natural productions, including the various sorts of native fossils, perfect and imperfect vegetables, quadrupedes, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; with their properties and uses in mechanics, diet, and physic. III. An account of the nature of climate in general, and their different effects upon the human body; with a detail of the diseases arising from this source, particularly within the tropics....illustrated with fifty copper-plates...in natural size....
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 13448 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15721
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
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 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
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 –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
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
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
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
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
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 –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 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
1842 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837); WESTWOOD, John Obadiah (1805 – 1893)
Natural history of the insects of China, containing upwards of two hundred and twenty figures and descriptions by E. Donovan. A new edition, brought down to the present state of the science, with systematic characters of each species, synonyms, indexes, and other additional matter by J. O. Westwood.
Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Archive at this link.
GMN 9083 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11262
1842 –1894 HALL, James Jr. (1811 – 1898); DE KAY, James Ellsworth (1792 – 1851)
[New York Natural History and Geological Survey.] Natural history of New York. 30 vols.
The New York Natural History and Geological Survey was established by the state legislature in 1836 under the direction of James Ellsworth DeKay. By far the most ambitious scientific project undertaken in the United S…
GMN 12480 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14713
1845 –1854 AUDUBON, John James Laforest (1785 – 1851); BACHMAN, John (1790 – 1874)
The viviparous quadrupeds of North America. 2 vols. of plates in folio; 3 vols. 8vo text.
The largest and most significant color plate book produced in America during the 19th century.
GMN 7769 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9941
1872 GRAY, John Edward (1800 – 1875); SOWERBY, James De Carle (1787 – 1871); BELL, Thomas (1792 – 1880); LEAR, Edward (1812 – 1888)
Tortoises, terrapins, and turtles drawn from life
Though not credited on the title page, Thomas Bell was superintendent of the plates and the intended author of this work. James de Carle Sowerby created the original paintings. Edward Lear drew the plates on stone. Fo…
GMN 13353 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15624
1931 PFEIFFER, Max Adolf (1875 – 1957); MERIAN, Maria Sibylla (1647 – 1717)
Die Werke der Maria Sibylle Merian: bibliographisch Zusammengestellt.
GMN 11777 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13978
1949 SMITH, Alexander Hanchett (1904 – 1986)
Mushrooms in their natural habitats.
A distinctively published work illustrated stereoscopically with color View-Master slides, and incorporating the View-Master "reels" and a View-Master viewer in a box along with the conventional bound text.
GMN 11102 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13298
1966 AUDUBON, John James Laforest (1785 – 1851)
The original water-color paintings by John James Audubon for The Birds of America. Reproduced in color from the collection at The New York Historical Society. Introduction by Marshall B. Davidson. 2 vols.
First printed edition of the "virtually complete" series of original water-color paintings for Audubon's The Birds of America, preserved in The New York Historical Society.
GMN 12801 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15047
1998 STONE, Sarah (1760 – 1844); JACKSON, Christine Elisabeth (1936 – )
Sarah Stone: Natural curiosities from the new worlds
GMN 10434 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12627
2004 BEEN, Anita Cavagnaro
Animals & authors in the eighteenth-century Americas: A hemispheric look at the writing of natural history. By Anita Cavagnaro Been with cataloguing records for selected titles prepared by Burton Van Name Edwards.
GMN 13446 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15718
2019 ABBOT, John (1751 – 1840); SWAINSON, William John (1789 – 1855)
John Abbot and William Swainson: Art, science, and commerce in nineteenth-century natural history illustration
"During his lifetime (1751-ca. 1840), English-born naturalist and artist John Abbot rendered more than 4,000 natural history illustrations and profoundly influenced North American entomology, as he documented many spe…
GMN 13095 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15347
![BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)](/media/portraits/9632)
