Rare Treasures: From the Library of the Natural History Museum

2015 | Art, Photography & Fashion

The Library of the Natural History Museum contains one of the most exciting and comprehensive collections of natural history literature and artworks to be found anywhere in the world. It holds over half a million artworks, comprising one of Britain's biggest art collections and representing all the great natural history artists, and many thousands of books, including some richly illustrated volumes of great historical significance.Rare Treasures is a stunningly illustrated guide to a special selection of some of its most highly valued books, chosen for their scientific and artistic merit. For each book there is an essay by a Museum expert, explaining the role it played in the development of natural history.Accompanying the guide are 40, visually appealing colour prints, reproduced directly from the books and printed on the highest quality paper.Books featured include the oldest book in the Library, the 1469 edition of Pliny the Elder's Plinius secundus nouocomensis; Albertus Seba's striking Locupletissimi rerum published from 1734; Mark Catesby's History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, the first published account of the flora and fauna of this area, and the stunning line drawings from Napoleon's expedition to Egypt in 1798.

Judith Magee (Author)