The Armchair Naturalist

In today's travel section of the New York Times there is a terrific article on 

Birding in India, illustrated with color glossy photographs of showy birds in their technicolor settings. 

Today we have the opportunity and ability to span the globe

in search of the world's most splendid natural wonders, and many do.

These fortunate folk are known as Eco Tourists.

Kingfisher

During the 18th and 19th Centuries, international travel wasn't as opportune. 

Thus witness the birth of a new demographic: The Armchair or Parlor Naturalist, a person who in simplest terms was passionate about the discovery of new species, and who, without the means as a worldwide explorer, enjoyed the joy of discovery from the comfort of his or her study or parlor.

Thus accompanying the ranks of the armchair traveler, this new interest created opportunity for an entirely new interest audience, and the book publishing world took note. 

Paradise Flycatcher

 

The late18th and early 19th centuries witnessed the blossoming 

of several fine naturalist's compendiums, illustrated with meticulously rendered and lavishly hand-colored engraved illustrations Two such works were The Naturalist's Miscellany  written and illustrated by Dr George Shaw and Frederick Polydore Nodder in London between 1790 and 1813, 

and The Naturalist's Library, written and edited by Sir William Jardine in Edinburgh, beginning in 1836.

In the pages of these fine volumes, the glories of natural world were available for everyone's enjoyment. 

Both The Naturalist's Library and The Naturalist's Miscellany excelled at the discovery, documentation and representation, from both life and perfected stuffed specimen, of new species: birds, animals, insects and aquatic life, from often previously uncharted territories around the globe.

 Tussah Silkworm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phalaena Paphia

Wonderful new images now filled the minds, hearts and souls of the previously uninformed. 

And due to their discovery and documentation, many species were exported worldwide

to survive in lands far from their natural habitats.

 The Spike-crested Peacock 

The quantity of newly documented species is astounding, many of which have since been rendered extinct. Regardless, they still thrive in the pages of these essential naturalist's works.  

All images courtesy of Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books, ABAA

Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie

Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's 

Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire Raisonné des Sciences, des Arts et des Métiers.

 Paris 1763

These fine original copperplate engravings printed on heavy handmade rag stock

were published as part of the essential exploratory encyclopedia of arts, 

science and industry produced during  

The Age of Enlightenment. 

This keynote work extolled the artistic virtues and labors 

of the common man during pre-Revolutionary France.

Didactic in nature, the plates were engraved and documented in meticulous detail, 

and represented a fine visual record of French culture and achievement.

After the French Revolution, society could thus be recreated,

here inspired by the illustrations and descriptions of the daily toils and talents of the common folk. 

Today these refined engravings are prized for their diverse and elegant representations

of the arts and craftsmanship, as well as attention to detail of costume, elements of travel, 

architectural landscape and perspective.

All text and images courtesy of Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books, ABAA

Welcome

Welcome to 2011 and the new Blog of Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books. It's a New Year and a New Time, and after a Quarter of a Century in the Rare Print Trade, I felt it was time to get up to speed. We've named our blog 'A Naturalist's Miscellany', because it will be just that: a diverse offering of our knowledge of the art and literature of fine and rare Natural History, and the artisans who made a difference.

Here is where we will host our semi regular postings of our articles and the featured highlights from the shop, as well as random and related ruminations on the rare print and book trade. We hope you find the offerings informative, enlightening. and perhaps even a bit entertaining. One never know what may appear on these pages, so please keep us in your sights and let us know what you think. With kind regards, Priscilla