Locupletissimi Rerum Naturalium Thesauri Accurata Descriptio, et Iconibus Artificiosissimis Expressio, per Universam Physices Historiam

SEBA, Albertus (1666-1736)

Editore: Jansson-Waesberg [Volume 3]; H. C. Arkesteum and H. Merkum, Peter Schouten [Volume 4], Amsterdam, 1765

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(21 1/4 x 14 inches). [Volume 3]: 212 pp.; [Volume 4]: 42, 226 pp. Two engraved titles and 224 plates (70 double-page) by Tanje, van der Laan, de Bakker, van Buysen, de la Croix, Folkema, Jongman, Morellon la Cave, K.D. Putter, Punt, and van der Speyk, with splendid original hand colouring. 18th-century dark blue half-morocco, spines with raised bands forming eight compartments, lettered and numbered gilt in the second and fourth, the others richly gilt Extraordinary example in contemporary hand colour of Volumes 3 and 4 of Albertus Seba's monumental work, a detailed exploration of the natural world through striking engravings. These volumes expand upon Seba's earlier explorations, showcasing the vast array of specimens he meticulously collected over his lifetime as an apothecary and naturalist in Amsterdam. The publication history of Seba's Thesauri reflects the collaborative and ambitious nature of 18th-century scientific publishing. The project began in 1734, with the first two volumes released during Seba's lifetime under the auspices of Amsterdam publishers Jansson-Waesberg and successors of Joannes Oosterwyk. Following Seba's death in 1736, work on the Thesauri continued, and Volumes 3 and 4 were completed by H. Boerhaave, H.D. Graubius, P. Massuet, and P. van Musschenbroek. Boerhaave, highly respected professor of Leyden University, had praised the undertaking in the prospectus by declaring the book unequalled. Volume 3, published by Jansson-Waesberg, is devoted to marine life and features a dazzling array of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other sea creatures. Each specimen is rendered in striking detail, reflecting the 18th-century fascination with the diversity and complexity of sea life. Of particular importance was the work on fishes by P. Artedi who worked at the recommendation of Linneaus. Volume 4, published by H.C. Arkesteum and H. Merkum with contributions from Peter Schouten, turns its attention to land-based phenomena, including insects, minerals, fossils, and other natural curiosities. The intricate depictions of insects are particularly noteworthy, blending scientific observation with a keen artistic sensibility. Together, these volumes demonstrate the encyclopedic nature of Seba's work, offering insights into the biological and geological diversity of the 18th century. Albertus Seba's initial collection, assembled during his travels as a member of the Dutch East India Company, was internationally renowned. Such was the importance of Seba's collection that his private museum became an attraction, visited both by passing dignitaries and naturalists. It attracted scholars and luminaries such as Carl Linnaeus, who drew upon Seba's specimens and observations for his own groundbreaking work in taxonomy as well as Maria Sybilla Merian, who made use of Seba's cabinet of natural curiosities in her great work on Surinamese insects. Following Seba's death in 1736, his collection was auctioned in 1752. Many of Seba's specimens still survive in European museums. The Thesauri, with its exquisitely detailed engravings and accompanying texts, remains a landmark in the history of natural history and book production. It bridges the realms of science and art, capturing the wonder of biodiversity while exemplifying the Enlightenment-era drive to categorize and understand the natural world. Copies with contemporary hand colouring are extremely rare: a coloured example of Vols. 1-4 sold in Paris in 2017 for $ 605,597. Anker 454; Fine Bird Books (1990), p.139; Landwehr 179; Nissen BBI 1825; Nissen ZBI 3793; Plesch 862; Wood, p.560; L.B. Holthuis 'Albertus Seba's Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri.(1734-1765) and the Planches de Seba (1827-1831)' in Zoologische Mededelingen Vol. 43, no. 19. 1969; M. Boeseman, 'The vicissitudes and dispersal of Albertus Seba's zoological specimens' in: Idem. Vol. 44 no. 13. 1970.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Locupletissimi Rerum Naturalium Thesauri Accurata Descriptio, et Iconibus Artificiosissimis Expressio, per Universam Physices Historiam
• Editore: Jansson-Waesberg [Volume 3]; H. C. Arkesteum and H. Merkum, Peter Schouten [Volume 4], Amsterdam
• Data di pubblicazione: 1765
• Rilegatura: 2 vols. (of 4). Folio
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • Natural History