Two folios of John Jonston’s 17th century ‘Historiae Naturalis De Quadrupedibus’ show us a wondrous mixture of real and imagined creatures he considered vital to understanding the natural world of his time in one of his many zoological encyclopedias. Issued in Frankfurt between 1650-1657, the first editions of these works combined works on quadrupeds, birds, insects, aquatic life, and reptiles. Finely engraved, carefully detailed, and often featuring a touch of whimsy, these are among the most pleasing zoological plates produced in the 17th century. Mythical animals such as the griffin, the phoenix, and a variety of unicorns are pictured alongside real creatures, some of which no doubt seemed equally improbable to 17th-century Europeans.
 
Framed in identical gilded frames with a black mat, 49 x 39 cm, print size 33 x 19 cm
 
Condition: both items are in good condition
 
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