The
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
Albertus Seba
(1665–1736) was unrivalled 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 for the publication of a four-volume catalog, 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.