Iconographia Zoologica

"Iconographia Zoologica is a 19th century collection of zoological prints that was created by bringing together various collections in the library of the Dutch Royal Zoological Society Natura Artis Magistra between 1881 and 1883. [..]

In addition to drawings, Iconographia Zoologica has a particularly large number of prints made using a variety of printing techniques and often hand-coloured. They originate from zoological publications dating back to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. [..]

Together these prints and drawings constitute a unique paper databank of more than 80,000 illustrations. A selection of approximately 20,000 illustrations of mammals, birds and fish have been included in Memory of the Netherlands."

"This Golden Eagle was drawn and etched from living nature by the Susemihl family. For a long time, stuffed animals served as model for many richly illustrated books on animals. At the time, this was called drawing from living nature. The establishment of zoos in Europe, later in the 19th century, enabled illustrators to also paint livestock. This resulted in illustrations becoming less stiff."

IN: 'Teutsche Ornithologie' 1811, Ed. by M Borckhausen

Is humbly dedicated to the Gentlemen of the Feather Club
by their Obedient Humble servant, M Eaton.
Painted & Engraved by D Wolstoneholme, 1852

"The Quagga was a plains zebra living in South Africa. The last Quagga was killed by hunters in 1878. This species was then added to the long list of extinct animal species. Fortunately, there was one specimen still alive at Artis zoo [Amsterdam]. After its passing away on 12 August 1883, the Quagga disappeared forever from the Earth’s surface. The above print is now preserved in the zebra enclosure of that time."

"This pen drawing of a young elephant from William V’s menagerie was done [in ink over pencil in 1774] by J. Camper, son of Petrus Camper (1722-1789). The Artis Library has three drawings by Petrus Camper of the elephants Hans and Parkie. During the French occupation these two elephants were transported to Paris in specially made vehicles as war loot and were exhibited in the Jardin des Plantes. Little is known about the elephant depicted here; but the drawing was certainly done before Hans and Parkie arrived in the Netherlands."

{All images have been variously spot-cleaned in the background; click through on any for an enlarged version. Many of the species names and notes above were deduced from the original - outdated - classifications}


Iconographia Zoologica: A Paper Animal Kingdom is available through the Memory of the Netherlands.

As with all their wonderful sprawling collections sites, there are a number of ways to sample and browse through the material. This is one of those sites fit to while away a rainy afternoon. It is worth taking the time and clicking around.

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