Cabinet of Natural Curiosities: The Complete Plates in Colour, 1734-1765 | 
 enlarge | Creator: Albertus Seba
Publisher: Taschen
Category: Book
List Price: $70.00
Buy New: $43.80
You Save: $26.20 (37%)
New (16) Used (16) from $24.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 22622
Format: Illustrated
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 25th
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 543
Shipping Weight (lbs): 11.9
Dimensions (in): 15.7 x 10.6 x 2.4
ISBN: 3822847941
Dewey Decimal Number: 709
EAN: 9783822847947
ASIN: 3822847941
Publication Date: October 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Albertus Sebas Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is one of the 18th centurys greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time.Though it was common for men of his profession to collect natural specimens for research purposes, Amsterdambased pharmacist Albertus Seba (16651736) had a passion that led him far beyond the call of duty. His amazing, unprecedented 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 illustrations of each and every specimen and arranged the publication of a four-volume catalog detailing his entire collectionfrom strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, insects, butterflies and more, as well as fantastic beasts, such as a hydra and a dragon. Sebas scenic illustrations, often mixing plants and animals in a single plate, were unusual even for the time. Many of the stranger and more peculiar creatures from Sebas collection, some of which are now extinct, were as curious to those in Sebas day as they are to us now. This reproduction is taken from a rare, hand-colored original. The introduction offers background information about the fascinating tradition of the cabinet of curiosities to which Sebas curiosities belonged.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
Yep, it's amazing November 6, 2008
I still can't believe this is only 40 some dollars. They couldn't have even printed this book for that, could they have? It's really big and really beautiful. Such a lot of drawings it's overwhelming, printed in great quality and color on all those pages and pages. Wonderful shapes, wonderful creatures, wonderful designs. Very inspiring and interesting. Just makes me want to stop what I'm doing and devote myself to drawing things and making some cool book like this before I'm dust.
absolutely beautiful! March 9, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The illustrations in this book are so vivid and detailed, it even makes snakes look beautiful to me! I wish there were more books that were made this way.
Extraordinary Value December 31, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Cabinet of Natural Curiosities: The Complete Plates in Colour, 1734-1765 At a time when unimportant volumes by hack authors sell for around $30 it is extraordinary to find a book this beautiful, this timeless at a price less than an average bottle of Chardonnay. Makes one rethink any list they might have made of books to take to a deserted island.
A fabulous visual treat July 25, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I'm not a biologist or scientist of any kind. But I am a fan of Taschen's publications and admire his goal of publishing high-quality photo/art books at reasonable prices. I happened to come across this book while browsing in the bookshop, was attracted by the Taschen name on the cover, took a peek inside and bought it on the spot. It was only afterwards that I discovered the history and historical significance of this collection. It's a beautiful book, filled with brilliantly colored illustrations of reptiles, butterflies, plants and animals. Great stuff and a real education for a layman like me.
lots and lots of drawings of snakes July 10, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
snakes, bugs, plants, birds and all manner of living creatures. It is really an overwhelming collection. Worth getting a larger coffee table.
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