SEBA: Cabinet of Natural Curiosities 1734-1765

Exotic plants, corals and crocodiles, birds and butterflies. Albertus Seba's extraordinary catalogue of natural specimens is not only one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements but also one of the most prized natural history books of all time. It is a beautiful tribute to the abundance and diversity of Earth's creatures, great and small, as well as a fascinating record of some now-extinct animals. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Albertus Seba (1665-1736) was unrivalled in his passion. Seba's scenic illustrations, often mixing plants and animals in a single plate, were unusual even for the time. His amazing collection of animals, plants and insects from all around the world gained international fame during his lifetime. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba commissioned careful and often scenic illustrations of every specimen. With these meticulous drawings, he arranged for the publication of a four-volume catalogue, covering the entire collection from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, birds, and butterflies, as well as now extinct creatures. This reproduction is taken from a rare, hand-coloured original. 15.6 x 21.7cm, 512 pages.