Reference Source 500s

1. Reference Source500s Catherine Watson Week 3 Spring 2009

2. “Albertus Seba's "Cabinet of Curiosities" is one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time.” Musch, Irmgard, and Rainer Willmann. Albertus Seba's Cabinet of natural curiosities: Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri, 1734-1765. Cologne and London: Taschen, 2001. Print.

3. “Albertus Seba, a pharmacist and naturalist, commissioned illustrations of his rare fossil, plant, and animal collection in the eighteenth century, and they’ve lost none of their power to delight.” Martha Stewart Living, New York United States

4. What is a cabinet of curiosity?

5. "This is a massive book. It is also, probably, one of the most beautiful you are ever likely to see... if you can run to the massive price. The clarity of the introductory text is matched by the quality of the reproductions, the paper and the typography. Stunning. Fortean Times verdict: Academic Publishing at its glorious best. 10 out of 10." Fortean Times, London “As a young man, Albertus Seba chose to become a pharmacist. His decision proved fortunate, both for him and for science. In familiarizing himself with medicinal plants, he took an interest in other natural phenomena, including mammals, birds, mollusks, insects and — his apparent favorite — snakes. His success as an apothecary afforded him the opportunity to amass a large and impressive collection…” Natural History Magazine, April 2002

6. Arrangement – 4 books 41127 Plants Snakes 301 437 Snails, Shellfish Insects, Fossils Organisms Minerals

7. contents Pg.6 - The collection Pg. 27 - The zoology and botany Pg.41 - Plants Pg.127 - Snakes Pg.301 - Snails, Shellfish and Organisms Pg.437 - Insects, Fossils and Minerals Pg.543 - Identification of the species Pg.550 - Explanatory notes on the plates Pg. 584 - Appendix - Bibliography (secondary literature) - The scientists and authors - Acknowledgements - photographic credits

8. “Offers an unrivaled insight into the state of biological knowledge in its own day.” (1734-1765) “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 collection-from 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.” www.taschen.com 446 copperplate engravings.

9. Today over 1.5 million species have been identified Around Seba’s time 10,000 species each of plants and animals had been identified

10. Currency The book is based on 4 18th century catalogs that are today housed in a museum at The Hague (1734-1765). The book has been brought up to date with contemporary biologists providing descriptions of the specimens. The bibliography has been added to 2 new sections, explaining the book, have been added. Published in 2001

11. What makes it special Plates in colour and large size make it a notable visual resource (11.4 x 17.3 in.) folio sized pages Weighs in at 16.8 pounds Every customer review of the book on Amazon gave it 5 stars Major publishing enterprise for its’ time (1734-1765) Each figure is annotated in three languages (English, German and French) Authentic example of a Pre-Linnean work The work is an absolute knock-out, GORGEOUS

12. Natural History Pictorial Works Pre-Linnean Works Today species are classified in the Linnean system. One year before Seba died the Linnean system was in place. His thesaurus was dated almost as soon as it was published. Sound familiar? Linnea used Seba’s books as resources when developing his classification system. • Before cameras and microscopes people had to draw and sometimes they needed to use their imaginations.

13. Who Else? • 18th century, • ambient art, • art history, • biology, • botanical illustration, • botany, • coffee table, • curiosities, • English, • fauna, • flora, • graphic art history, • history of science, • natural history, • nature prints , • psyche science, • taxidermy, • design

14. What is a cabinet of curiosity? • Collections very common in the 18th century of rare, exotic and unusual items. (pg. 6) • Do you have a book that shows the contents of a cabinet of curiosity? • Can you tell me the names of some of the most notable natural history books? • Do you have any books with drawings of snakes? • Do you have a book of drawings from the natural world? • I saw a poster I really liked in a café and someone told me it was Albertus Seba, who is that? • My science teacher told me I had to find some examples of pre-Linnean works, can you help me? • I am writing a paper on the history of natural history, can you recommend any good resources? • I’m looking for books of collections. • I’m writing a paper about Albertus Seba can you help me find resources?

15. “Seba's Thesaurus endures as a grand and wondrous visual record of science at a crossroads ...”

16. Irmgard Müsch, born in 1967, studied art history, history and classical archaeology in Mainz and Berlin. Her Ph.D. thesis from 1999 examines Johann Jakob Scheuchzer’s Kupfer-Bibel, a richly illustrated scientific commentary on the Bible from the early 18th century. She has published on art of the 18th and 20th century, scientific illustrations and Kunstkammer pieces.Jes Rust, born 1963, completed his studies in geology, paleontology and zoology at Göttingen and Kiel. His thesis dealt with the evolution of fossil snails living in the fresh and brackish waters of prehistoric Greece. His assistantship at the Institute of Zoology in Göttingen between 1993 and 1999 was followed by his appointment in 2001 as professor of invertebrate paleontology and insect phylogeny at the University of Bonn.Rainer Willmann holds a chair in zoology at Göttingen University, is director of its Zoological Museum, and is co-founder of its Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research. A specialist in phlogenetics and evolution, he conducts research into biodiversity and its history.  22 additional scientists added to the work

17. The book is noted for the depictions of anthropomorphic features and the unusual groupings of species

18. impressions This book is fantastic and I was very excited to see it on the reference shelf. I talked to a librarian about it and referred back to our essay What is a reference book? I have decided that this book is put in reference because it is a book a library would not want to lose. It has a high price tag and it is a “special book.” I couldn’t imagine anyone taking it home anyway because it is also gigantic and heavy. When I first began to study it I panicked at the contents page because it had an unusual lay out, but I soon figured it out. It is a simple, straightforward book. Unlike most reference books you could probably, one day, read through it. It is foremost a visual work. The book is so many things; a collection, natural history, art history, plants and animals, art and science. I know more about science and natural history now than I knew before I started researching this book.

19. Complementary sources PRINT: • Cabinets of curiosities / Patrick Mauriès • Stuffed animals and pickled heads: the culture of natural historymuseums / Stephen T. Asma • Kunstformen der Natur. English Art forms in nature: the prints of Ernst Haeckel. / Haeckel, Ernst Heinrich • Mr. Wilson's cabinet of wonder / Lawrence Weschler • Finders, keepers: eight collectors / Rosamond Wolff Purcell & Stephen Jay Gould • Alchemie & Mystik. English Alchemy & mysticism: the hermetic museum / Alexander Roob; [English translation, Shaun Whiteside] • D'Amboinsche rariteitkamer. English The Ambonese curiosity cabinet / Georgius Everhardus Rumphius; translated, edited, annotated and with an introduction by E.M. Beekman.

20. Complementary sources Animal Diversity Web http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html Animal Species Classification http://www.ipl.org The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online http://darwin-online.org.uk Cryptozoology http://www.cryptozoology.com Classification of Living Things http://anthro.palomar.edu/animal/ World Biodiversity Database http://www.eti.uva.nl/Database/WBD.html

21. Albertus Seba 1665-1736