SIR HANS SLOANE: THE MUDFISH & PARROTFISH 1725

This very rare and beautiful folio copperplate engraving of a mudfish and parrotfish by Michael van der Gault for the author, Hans Sloan, is from:

“A voyage to the islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christopher’s and Jamaica: with the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those islands; to which is prefixed, an introduction, wherein is an account of the inhabitants, air, waters, diseases, trade, &c. of that place, with some relations concerning the neighbouring continent, and islands of America. Illustrated with figures of the things described, which have not been heretofore engraved. In large copper-plates as big as the life.”

Volume 2, 1725, Author Hans Sloan (1660 1753), engraved by Michael van der Gucht (1660-1725), printed in English by the British Museum for the author, 1707 – 1724

Sir Hans Sloane was one of the most influential men of early eighteenth-century London. He amassed one of the greatest private collections of plants, animals, antiquities, coins and other curiosities. These items became the founding core of the British Museum and, later, the Natural History Museum.

“Sloan’s natural history was at once emphatically visual and deeply learned, intended for both Caribbean colonists and European naturalists, and one of the age’s most spectacular works on colonial science.”

James Delbourgo, Collecting the World, Hans Sloan and the Origins of the British Museum, 2017

(Ref: Nissen, C. Botanische Buchillustration (2. Aufl.) 1854 - “Historical Portrait of the Progress of Ichthyology, from Its Origins to Our Time,” George Cuvier, Edited by Pietsch 1995 - Natural History Museum, London)

Condition:  Very good, with fine recent professional hand colouring. Some minor imperfections expected with age, please examine our images carefully and contact us if you any questions. On chain-lined watermarked paper with centre fold as issued. Copy of original title page included.