Description: Title "Theatrum Universale Omnium Animalium" Author/Artist John Jonstone Date 1650 Reissue 1773 Sizes Imperial Folio 12" 1/4 x 18" 1/2 (31 x 47,0 cm) Description Copper engraving. Beautiful original hand coloring. Very Scarce. "Theatrum Universale" Reissued as "Histoire Naturelle Des Différent Oiseaux" By J.Jonstone Biography of the Artist. John Jonston (15th September 1603 – April 1675) Born in Szamotuły (Poland) in 1603, Jonston (or Johnstone) - a descendant of a Scottish family -was an important medical doctor and a prominent naturalist. He was born into a poor family and devoted himself to the study of natural science and medicine being supported by his paternal uncle and studied at St. Andrews, Cambridge, and Leiden. Jonston spent most of his life travelling through Europe. While he resided at Leyden, he took his degree as doctor of physics; and when he went a third time to England, the same honour was conferred on him by the university of Cambridge. His works became of great importance, first of all because of their new educational approach, and were an important contribution to the growing of natural history studies. Four of his dictionary-style works - a magnificent, unusually beautifully and richly illustrated natural history compilation on fish, birds, quadrupeds, and insects -published between 1650 and 1653 were widely read and translated. In 1665 the Polish-Swedish war forced him to move to Legnica, where he died in 1675. He Published among other: Historiae naturalis de quadrupedibus libri, cum aeneis figuris, Johannes Jonstonus,... concinnavit (J. J. Schipperi, Amsterdam, 1657). Historiae naturalis de insectis libri II, de serpentibus et draconibus libri II, cum aeneis figuris, Joh. Jonstonus,... concinnavit (J. J. fil. Schipper, Amsterdam, 1657, reissued 1665). Historiae naturalis de insectis libri III, de serpentibus et draconibus libri II, cum aeneis figuris, Joh. Jonstonus,... concinnavit (deux parties en un volume, J. J. fil. Schipper, Amsterdam, 1657, reissued 1667). Historiae naturalis de exanguibus aquaticis libri IV, cum figuris aeneis, Joannes Jonstonus,... concinnavit (J. J. Schipperi, Amsterdam, 1657, reissued 1665). Historiae naturalis de piscibus et cetis libri V, cum aeneis figuris, Johannes Jonstonus,... concinnavit (J. J. Schipperi, Amsterdam, 1657). Historiae naturalis de avibus libri VI cum aeneis figuris Johannes Jonstonus,... concinnavit (J. J. Schipperi, Amsterdam, 1657). A Description of the Nature of Four-footed Beasts (London, 1678). An English translation of Historiae naturalis de quadripedibus, with 80 engraved illustrations. Theatrum universale omnium animalium, piscium, avium, quadrupedum, exanguium aquaticorum, insectorum et angium (R. & G. Weststenios, Amsterdam, 1718). Description of the work. We are pleased to offer a selection of prints from a reissue by L.C. Desnos (1773-1774) of the rare 1650 edition of Jonston’s works on birds "Theatrum Universale Omnium Animalium". The Finely-executed prints, after Jonston’s drawings, were engraved by by Kaspar and Matthäus Merian and depict parrots, peacocks songbirds and rare tropical species birds, as well as fabulous birds such as the phoenix, harpy, and griffon. Each Grand Folio print measure approximately 12”1/4 by 18”1/2 (31 by 47,0 cm). The condition of these prints is very good, with characteristic strong plate marks. There is no foxing on clean wonderful chained hand made watermarked paper. Some marginal paper repair. There is no descriptive text. These Prints are very scarce. Bibliography Reference: Nissen 484; Anker 238
Price: 170 USD
Location: Canavaccio
End Time: 2024-01-08T14:55:27.000Z
Shipping Cost: 22.5 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Print
Material: Paper
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Handmade: Yes
