Cabinet of Natural Curiosities

Originally curated from 1665–1736, the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities is known as one of the greatest natural history collection books of all time. It features 3 languages, English, German, and French, as well as a massive collection of hand-drawn illustrations. In 1731, after many years of collecting specimens of wildlife, Albertus Seba commissioned  detailed illustrations of each  of these specimens and arranged the publication into a four-volume catalogue. The book features a variety of natural specimens, ranging from exotic plants to amphibians, shellfish, mammals, bugs, and many more.

This particular edition was published April 1st, 2011, by Taschen America Llc. It was written by Irmgard Müsch, Jes Rust, and Rainer Willmann. The cover is fitted with decorative cloth and features an illustration of red coral.

This book has been reproduced in many editions and forms, and is a demonstration of historical illustration appreciation at it's finest. The artwork is full of color and rich in detail, and is accompanied by meticulous notes describing each specimen depicted. As it is a restorative piece of historical literature, it allows future generations to appreciate the dedication put into creating a dictionary of various forms of nature, especially coming from a time long passed. It also provides historical context to people trying to get an understanding of what kind of wildlife existed during such a period of time, as many of the specimens described in the book are extinct. Consistent in image quality and text formatting, this book can be enjoyed by any person, whether serving as a casual book to flip through and appreciate the artistry, or as a piece of media that informs and preserves historical information.

Hardcover, 1.6" x 9.5" x 13.4", 6.50 lbs., 416 Pages

Sasha Dorner

Citations:

Dearborn, JJ. “Albertus Seba’s Cabinet of Wonder and Awe.” Biodiversity Heritage Library Blog, January 17, 2013. https://blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2013/01/curiositycabinet.html.

“Seba. Cabinet of Natural Curiosities.” Taschen, 2024. https://www.taschen.com/en/books/classics/44835/seba-cabinet-of-natural-curiosities/.

“Albertus Seba (1665-1736).” Arader Galleries, 2024. https://aradergalleries.com/collections/albertus-seba-1665-1736.