Mark Catesby (British, 1683-1749), "Bluish-Green Snake with French Mulberry", 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, sinuous blue-green and yellow snake spiraling around a French Mulberry 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 14.375" 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.

One of Catesby's signatures was that he included both plant and animal life on the same page. This was not only economical, but inspired a new style. In addition, Catesby completed "Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands" almost entirely by himself. In addition to doing his own field research and sketches, Catesby studied engraving under Joseph Groupy and learned how to etch the plates by himself as well. What's more, Catesby was the first to establish scientific names based on generic relationships rather than use Indian names for his subjects, and interestingly, Carolus Linnaeus used Catesby’s work as the basis for his system of binomial nomenclature for American species. Catesby clearly made an important contribution to the natural sciences of the 18th century.

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

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#136782

Foxing and tears to edges. Mat has losses and is torn as shown. Engraved imagery is still strong. Nice plate mark.