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 ~
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T. 46 Chatterer (Cedar Waxwing with Spicebush) .$750 |
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T. 64 - Finch Creeper (Parula Warbler) $1,250 |
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T. 78 Brown Bittern. $750 |
~ Volume
2 ~
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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.
~ Appendix ~
~ 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.
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28 Globe Fish with plant. $450 |
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33 Plant with Crab and Snail. $350 |
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65 Carolina Lizard in Sycamore. $650 |
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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:
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Parrot of Carolina, $350 |
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Blue Jay, $150 |
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Pileated Woodpecker $300 |
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Mockingbird, $250 |
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Baltimore Bird, $100 |
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Kingfisher, $150 |
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Flamingo, $225 |
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Blue Heron $200 |
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Great Hog Fish, $150 |
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Magnolia, $350 |
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Bull Frog, $250 |
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Umbrella Tree, $100 |
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Ribbon Snake, $50 |
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Land Crab, $75 |
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