Birds of America Double-elephant folio Editions
Viviparous Quadruped Imperial Folio Editions
The work for which Mark Catesby is most remembered, The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, visually documents the flora and fauna of colonial America through hand-colored engravings. Catesby, an English artist-naturalist, set out on an expedition of discovery to learn about the uncharted animalia of the Americas. As a self-taught artist, Catesby takes a unique approach to rendering the natural world. His prints are charming and possess an almost medieval quality. The Natural History and Appendix (1731, 1754, and 1771 editions) contain 220 prints that substantiate the earliest colored book on American birds.