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Rare Treasures from the Library of the Natural History Museum
This beautiful box set brings together the most highly prized books from one of the most exciting and comprehensive collections of natural history literature to be found anywhere in the world. Inside you will find: 1) RARE TREASURES, a 224-page book with over 160 illustrations and 31 essays on notable works spanning more than 500 years. They include Pliny the Elder's 1469 edition of HISTORIA NATURALIS, John James Audubon's masterpiece THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, and rare works by Albertus Seba, mark Catesby, and many more. 2) 36 stunning frameable prints (13.25 x 10.25 inches), pictured on the back cover of the box, reproduced directly from artworks featured in the selected books.
- GenresNonfiction
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 22, 2023
This was a really beautiful book about beautiful books and artworks held in the Natural History Museum. Each featured book has several plates (usually) full coloured reproduced, a brief description of the boo;, when, where and why it was made; and a bit about the author/artist. I did not read all the articles, just a couple that really interested me, but I did look at all the amazing pictures, and read their captions.
I own a facsimile (Folio Society) copy of Pliny’s ‘Historia Naturalis’ (1469) – the first item in the book, and a black and white paperback copy of Gerard’s ‘Herball’ (1597), and have seen an original copy at the RHS Lindley library. The only other item that I have seen a copy of, is Edward Lear’s ‘Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots’ (1830s). One of my aunts was an art conservator in New Zealand, and on one of my visits to her studio, she was conserving an original copy of this amazingly beautiful and vibrant book. Like most people, I had only known Edward Lear as a writer of nonsense rhymes up until that point.
The other items were quite new to me, but no less interesting and wonderful. Most were drawn anatomically or botanically correctly, though some of the earlier illustrations could be quite fanciful, such as in Ulisses Aldrovandi’s ‘Monstrotum Historia cum Paralipomensis Historiae Omnium Animalium’ (1642 – the title says it all!)).
A lovely book to flick through, and even lovelier to own.
I own a facsimile (Folio Society) copy of Pliny’s ‘Historia Naturalis’ (1469) – the first item in the book, and a black and white paperback copy of Gerard’s ‘Herball’ (1597), and have seen an original copy at the RHS Lindley library. The only other item that I have seen a copy of, is Edward Lear’s ‘Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots’ (1830s). One of my aunts was an art conservator in New Zealand, and on one of my visits to her studio, she was conserving an original copy of this amazingly beautiful and vibrant book. Like most people, I had only known Edward Lear as a writer of nonsense rhymes up until that point.
The other items were quite new to me, but no less interesting and wonderful. Most were drawn anatomically or botanically correctly, though some of the earlier illustrations could be quite fanciful, such as in Ulisses Aldrovandi’s ‘Monstrotum Historia cum Paralipomensis Historiae Omnium Animalium’ (1642 – the title says it all!)).
A lovely book to flick through, and even lovelier to own.
February 25, 2022
This book is a collection of articles that present 31 highlights from the collection of the Natural History Museum's library: from Pliny the Elder via Maria Sybilla Merian to John James Audubon and finally Ernst Haeckel.
Each of the 31 works in this book are breathtakingly beautiful and were pioneering in their time. The process of creating a book in earlier times - making sketches of living or dead creatures, watercoloring them, converting them into etchings/lithographs, printing, then coloring them by hand - was very time-consuming and costly. The natural scientists described were therefore often dependent on subscribers and on lobbying. I have so much for these scientists and artists who, in a time before photography, air travel and the internet, still dedicated their time to share knowledge about flora and fauna in other parts of the world.
Each of the 31 works in this book are breathtakingly beautiful and were pioneering in their time. The process of creating a book in earlier times - making sketches of living or dead creatures, watercoloring them, converting them into etchings/lithographs, printing, then coloring them by hand - was very time-consuming and costly. The natural scientists described were therefore often dependent on subscribers and on lobbying. I have so much for these scientists and artists who, in a time before photography, air travel and the internet, still dedicated their time to share knowledge about flora and fauna in other parts of the world.
September 22, 2023
Decent, but somehow dryly written book about books held at the Natural History Museum.
October 2, 2025
I love old manuscripts. Originals are most amazing, but this facsimile copy is a good second best. Includes interesting commentary.
January 23, 2026
This book was a surprise to me. A self confessed philistine, I'd choose a seat in a cafe over hours trudging around a natural history museum. But, this book comes close to converting me.
The cover caught my eye. Enticing as a scene from a harem, it captures a dance of jellyfish in the sea. I've seen them for real. Once, in the Baltic. I swam. And purple veiled jellyfish circled around me. I lay back and opened my arms. They dressed me with their finery. For waking that memory, I'll treasure this book.
Any one of its illustrations, if framed, would make a room grand. A blushing rose here is more erotic than many nudes I've seen on walls. The volcanoes are humbling reminders of what constitutes real power. The flowers of Georgia O'Keefe and Roger Mapplethorpe come to mind and more. The commentary on the artists (one who names a jellyfish for the wife he loved and lost so young) made me pause in awe.
The cover caught my eye. Enticing as a scene from a harem, it captures a dance of jellyfish in the sea. I've seen them for real. Once, in the Baltic. I swam. And purple veiled jellyfish circled around me. I lay back and opened my arms. They dressed me with their finery. For waking that memory, I'll treasure this book.
Any one of its illustrations, if framed, would make a room grand. A blushing rose here is more erotic than many nudes I've seen on walls. The volcanoes are humbling reminders of what constitutes real power. The flowers of Georgia O'Keefe and Roger Mapplethorpe come to mind and more. The commentary on the artists (one who names a jellyfish for the wife he loved and lost so young) made me pause in awe.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews