Cabinet of Natural Curiosities

While it was common for 18th-century era scientists to collect plant, animal and insect specimens, perhaps none had a collection so vast and impressive as that of Albertus Seba. An Amsterdam-based pharmacist, zoologist and collector, Seba spent decades traveling the globe in search of flora and fauna of all kinds. In 1731, he commissioned meticulous and often scenic illustrations of each and every specimen he had amassed, which he later published as the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. This catalog would come to be known as one of the greatest natural history achievements of his time and to this day remains one of the most prized natural history books ever created. A facsimile of a rare hand-colored original edition, our stunning Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is filled with page after page of full-color illustrations depicting a wild menagerie of strange and exotic plants, snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, birds and butterflies, not to mention fantastical beasts such as the seven-headed hydra and a whole host of creatures that are now extinct. Also included are fascinating texts from contemporary zoologists and art historians, which shed light on the intriguing tradition of the cabinet of curiosities and the specimens featured in this historic collection. A stunning tribute to the beauty and diversity of our planet, this tome is worthy of a spot on any nature lover's coffee table. 10"W x 2"D x 15"H by Albertus Seba additional text by Irmgard Msch, Jes Rust and Rainer Willmanntext in English, French and German hardcover with dust jacket 592 pages.