**Originally Listed At $600**

Mark Catesby (British, 1683-1749), "Little Brown Bean Snake", a hand colored, original, copper plate engraving on fine laid paper, from "The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands"; printed in London for Benjamin White, 1771 (Third Edition). A beautiful and scientifically accurate original engraving of a long, slender snake spiraling around a bean plant from Catesby's "The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands" - one of the most famous color-plate books illustrating American plant and animal life forms, an original work for the study of various American species. This is an important work on paper from the most impressive illustrated study of natural history created during the colonial period of America. Indeed many regard Catesby's work as the most significant work of American natural history prior to Audubon's "Birds of America"! Size: sheet measures 19.5" L x 13.375" W (49.5 cm x 34 cm); 23" L x 17.5" W (58.4 cm x 44.4 cm) on mat

Catesby trained as a botanist, and in 1712 traveled to Virginia where he resided for seven years, all the while sending collections of seeds and plants to London. Encouraged by Sir Hans Sloane and other experts, Catesby returned to America in 1722 where he travelled extensively throughout the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and the Bahamas, gathering specimens for his "Natural History". In the preface of his book, Catesby describes his process, including his important decision to study with Joseph Groupy so that he could learn how to engrave his plates in order to guarantee accuracy.

Provenance: private Lucille Lucas collection, Crested Butte, Colorado, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#136781

Expected toning and areas of foxing commensurate with age. A tear to the edge of lower right margin. A small loss to the edge of lower margin. Good plate mark. Sides of mat are torn. Engraving is attached to mat. Hand-written gallery notes in margins and on mat.