Cabinet of natural curiosities: Das Naturalienkabinett = Le cabinet des curiosités naturelles : locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri, 1734-1765

Abstract

Albertus Seba's Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdam-based pharmacist Seba (1665-1736) was unrivaled in his passion. 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 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-colored original. The introduction supplies background information about the fascinating tradition of natural collections to which Seba's curiosities belonged.