Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s

Original natural history prints

3,797 plates from the great illustrated books of birds, plants and animals, printed between the 1600s and the early 1900s. Every one is a period original.

Birds
BirdsAves1,486 prints
Botanical
BotanicalPlantae1,067 prints
Mammals
MammalsMammalia552 prints
Insects and butterflies
Insects and butterfliesInsecta299 prints
Fish and shells
Fish and shellsPisces et Mollusca257 prints
Reptiles and amphibians
Reptiles and amphibiansReptilia et Amphibia136 prints

Artists and books

All artists and books

By period

Questions buyers ask

Are these prints originals?

Yes. Every print is a period original, printed in the year or edition stated. We do not sell reproductions, and the year on each listing is the year the plate was printed.

Was the colour added later?

Many 18th and early 19th century plates were coloured by hand when they were published; later plates were usually colour printed. Each listing describes the colouring where it is known.

Who is the seller?

Bartele Gallery in the Netherlands, dealers in antique prints and maps. This site presents its natural history collection.

Do you ship to my country?

Yes, worldwide. Prints are shipped flat, insured and tracked, at a flat rate by destination: from €15 in the Netherlands to €45 for the United States and the rest of the world, with faster express options. See Shipping and returns.

Can I return a print?

Yes, within 14 days of delivery, in the condition it arrived.