cabinets
cabinet of natural curiosities das naturalienkabinett le cabinet des curiosites naturelles
p a most unusual collection of natural specimens br albertus sebas cabinet of 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 scientists of his era often collected natural specimens for research purposes amsterdam based pharmacist albertus seba 1665 1736 was unrivaled in his passion . his amazing 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 every specimen and arranged the publication of a four volume catalog from strange and exotic plants to snakes frogs crocodiles shellfish corals birds and butterflies as well as fantastic beasts such as a hydra and a dragon . br sebas scenic illustrations often mixing plants and animals in a single plate were unusual even for the time . the more peculiar creatures from the collection some of them now extinct were as curious in sebas day as they are today . br our superb reproduction is taken from a rare hand colored original . the introduction supplies background information about the fascinating tradition to which sebas curiosities belonged .