Natural History
Natural History
A variety of subject areas encompass this theme. Plates from books of botanical, zoological, physical geography are featured on our ecards
Goldsmith’s Natural History: abridged for the use of schools (1804) was edited by Mary Pilikington (1766-1839). Oliver Goldsmith (1730?)-1774, is one of the major 18th century authors whose books have been collected by the library. He was a popular Anglo-Irish essayist, poet, novelist, dramatist and natural history writer. The abridged edition was edited using Goldsmith’s1774 edition of A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. It features zoological engravings with simplified text to bring together the history of the earth with a description of its geographical features and many of its species. An illustrated edition with zoological prints appeared in 1853.
The North American Sylva: or A description of the forest trees of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia …1819 was a translation of François André Michaux’s monumental work in French. With hand coloured engravings by Pierre-Joseph Redouté and Pancrace Bessa, his opus rapidly became a landmark in American literature and the foundation of American forestry as Michaux had spent some years traveling and observing nature in North America. The work was augmented by the British botanist, Thomas Nuttall, whose work added 121 hand-colored plates to the 156 originally published with Michaux's Sylva. The publication is the most important work relating to American trees prior to the 20th century. It is the product of the efforts of two of the greatest naturalists to work in 19th-century America,
Noël-Antoine Pluche (1688-1761), known as l'Abbé Pluche was a French priest. His work, Spectacle de la nature, ou Entretiens sur les particularités de l'Histoire naturelle qui ont paru les plus propres à rendre les jeunes gens curieux…was published in nine volumes between 1732–1742. As a Pre-Linnaen work of taxonomy, aimed at young minds, it was widely translated into many languages in Europe, and also appeared in abridged editions. Its popularity spread the notion of becoming a Naturalist to many. Written in dialogue and in simple and clear language he explained the laws of nature and other sciences. Featured on our ecards are botanical engravings.
Magnat, Casimir’s Traité Du Langage Symbolique, Emblématique, Et Religieux Des Fleurs…1855, published this notable essay in Paris. The book contains 30 chromolithographs, some signed by Adèle Riché (1791 - 1878), a French painter known for his still lifes and folk and fruit compositions. Some of these exquisite illustrations are featured on our ecards. Drawing on ancient Persian and Ottoman traditions, the sélam, the symbolic language of flowers was brought to France in the 18th Century by Seigneur Aubry de la Mottraye, a French traveller and writer. By the 19th Century, the study of the flower language had become a popular pastime in France and England. The fascination with the flower language lasted throughout the century. Casimir Magnat, or l'abbé Magnat was a French clergyman and writer, most notably known for his 1855 essay, 'Traité du langage symbolique, emblématique et réligieux des fleurs'. Born in Buis-les-Baronnies in 1822, Magnat embraced the ecclesiastical vocation and, as an accomplished botanist, came to dedicate his writings to the relationship between the Christian faith and the botanical world.
Botanical journals enhance the Library’s collection in the field of colour botanical illustration. William Cutis’s The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed, is an illustrated publication which began in 1787. The longest running botanical magazine, it is widely referred to by the subsequent name Curtis's Botanical Magazine. (1790) Curtis was an apothecary and botanist who held a position at Kew Gardens. The publication familiarized its readers with ornamental and exotic plants. The first edition is renowned for its professionalism, accuracy and beauty of hand coloured flower engravings, executed by a variety of illustrators. There are 72 plates with accompanying text for each plate. (EC0001-EC0003, EC0006-EC0011, EC0018-EC0025, EC0033-EC0036, EC0050-EC0061