In the early 1700’s Mark Catesby, an Englishman, traveled in the American colonies to paint the flora and fauna of the new world.  After his return to England, he published a color plate book titled The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, 1731-43. This book represented the first work depicting the natural wonders of the new world.  Several English editions were printed later in the 1700's and another in the early 1800's.  The engraved, hand-colored plates measure about 14 x 20 inches and are some of the rarest prints in our inventory. Those offered below are from the editions in the 1700’s unless otherwise noted.

~ Volume 1 ~

	T. 46 Chatterer (Cedar Waxwing with Spicebush) .$750
	T. 64 -  Finch Creeper (Parula Warbler)  $1,250
	T. 78 Brown Bittern.  $750

~ Volume 2 ~

T. 100  Zebra Swallow-tail Butterfly.  $1,200

~ Johann Seligmann's Edition of Mark Catesby's Birds ~

Johann Seligmann (1720-1762), an outstanding artist, engraver and art dealer from Nuremberg, Germany, issued a European Edition of the birds from Mark Catesby's The Natural History of Carolina in parts beginning in 1749.  It was combined with bird engravings by George Edwards and intended for the European market.  Seligmann re-etched most of the bird engravings, often adding quaint scenes.  This edition was issued in a slightly smaller folio format with the plate mark measuring 8 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches and the laid paper sheets 9 1/2 x 15 1/2.  Catesby is credited with being the artist in each plate, and the bird names are given in German, French and Latin.  These prints, now around 250 years old, are quite beautiful and a fraction of the cost of the English Edition.  These lovely copies of Catesby's work were beautifully hand colored and are becoming more prized by collectors of original antique art depicting America's birds.  This work is considered one of the most beautiful of the ornithological books issued in Europe in the 18th century.

	2 White-headed (bald) Eagle with fish and sketch of head.  $625
	2 Purple Martin with Moon Seed.  $450
	4 Little White Heron (immature Blue) with Bahama Phymosia.  $1,200
	4 Fish Hawk (with catch)   $950
	4 Fish Hawk (with catch) $950
	4 Crested Flycatcher in Cat Briar.  $450
	6 Black-cap Flycatcher (Phoebe) in Yellow Jessamine.  $725
	6 Pigeon Hawk.  $450
	8 Swallow-tail Hawk (Kite).  $525
	10 Sparrow Hawk.  $450
	12 Summer Tanager (Redbird) in Sycamore Tree.  $650
	16 Goatsucker (Whip-poor-will) with Mole Cricket.  $325
	18 Carolina Cuckoo with Chinkapin.  $450
	20 Hooded Titmouse (Warbler) with Ogeechee Lime.  $550
	20 Hooded Titmouse (Warbler) with Ogeechee Lime. $350
	22 Carolina Parrot with Bald Cypress.  $2,200
	24 Yellow-throated Warbler with Red Maple.  $625
	24 Purple Grackle   $475
	26 Red-wing Blackbird with Broad-leaved Bayberry.  $450
	28 Parula Warbler with Silver Bell.  $550
	30 Ruby-throated Hummingbird with Trumpet Flower.  $850
	32 Largest White-billed (Ivory) Woodpecker with Willow Oak.  $1,600
	32 Largest White-billed (Ivory) Woodpecker with Willow Oak (trimmed) $250
	34 Redstart with Black Walnut.  $475
	34 Redstart with Black Walnut. $475
	36 Little Black Bullfinch  $350
	38 Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpeckers in Blackjack Oak.  $850
	40 Red-headed Woodpecker with Water Oak.  $650
	42 Yellow-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers in White Oak.  $650
	44 White-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatch with Turkey Oak  $525
	44 Ruddy Turnstone with Flowering Shanks.  $450
	46 Flamingo with Gorgonian.  $1,200
	48 Carolina Turtle Dove with May Apple.  $950
	48 Carolina Turtle Dove with May Apple. $450
	50 White-crowned Pigeon with Coco Plum.  $625
	52 Ground Dove with Hercules Club.  $425
	54 Mockingbird with Pink Dogwood.  $1,200
	54 Mockingbird with Pink Dogwood. $750
	58 Yellow-crowned Night Heron with Inkberry.  $650
	60 Green Heron with Green Ash.  $550
	62 Little Thrush in Dahoon.  $525
	66 Eastern Meadowlark with Yellow Star.  $625
	68 Red Curlew or Scarlet Ibis.  $750
	70 Oystercatcher with Black or Honey Mangrove.  $450
	76 Cardinal with Mockernut or butternut.  $1,400
	78 Laughing Gull.  $425
	84 Canada Goose Head with Rong Bush.  $450
	86 Eastern Goldfinch with Water Locust.  $750
	88 Hooded Merganser.  $550
	88 Painted Bunting with Loblolly Bay   $1,200
	96 Baltimore Oriole in Tulip Poplar Tree  $750

 ~ Appendix ~

	35 Sand Crab $450
	106 Troupial with Spider Lilly.  $650
	107 American Swallow (Chimney Swift) with Wood Lilly.  $525
	107 American Swallow (Chimney Swift) with Wood Lilly. $250
	110 Golden-crowned (Ruby?) Kinglet in Silky Camellia.  $650
	112 Whip-poor-will   $950
	114    Buffalo with Bristly Locust Tree.  $850

~ Eisenberger and Lichtenstein's Catesby Edition ~

In 1750, after the success of Johan Seligmann's re-etching of Mark Catesby's birds in 1749, two engravers from Nuremberg, Germany, issued a copy of Volume II of his work, which included the fishes, animals, insects and some plants.  The engravers, Nicholaus Friedrich Eisenbrger and Georg Lichtensteger, issued these plates in Catesby's original folio size of 14 x 20 inches.  This version was such a commercial success that it was reissued in 1777.  This work, which had plates 1 through 100 of his Volume II, also included some plates from his supplement.  These plates are beautifully colored copper plate engravings approximately 250 years old and are quite scarce.

	28    Globe Fish with plant.  $450
	33    Plant with Crab and Snail.  $350
	65    Carolina Lizard in Sycamore.  $650
	App. 4   Ichneumon Fly in Red Smooth Sumac.  $350

~ Facsimiles of Catesby's Natural History ~

In 1974 the Beehive Press in Savannah, Georgia, published a full size copy of Catesby's great work, and included all of the drawings in black and white, plus 50 of the drawings in full size color facsimiles.  This set was limited to 500  copies; our set is No. 289.  We can offer these facsimiles for those who want great Catesby images at inexpensive prices.  They include some birds, fish, animals and botanicals.  Prices range from $350 to $50 per plate.  A sample selection follows: