Mark Catesby Prints

English, 1682-1749

Mark Catesby (24 March 1683 – 23 December 1749) was an English naturalist. Between 1729 and 1747 Catesby published his Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, the first published account of the flora and fauna of North America. It included 220 plates of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, mammals and plants. Mark Catesby's The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands is generally credited as the first published work to provide illustrations and descriptions of North American flora and fauna. From 1722-1726 Catesby, an English naturalist, ranged over South Carolina, Georgia and the Bahamas sketching and collecting specimens of native plants and animals. Little is known of Catesby's early life. He was born in eastern England in 1683. Although Catesby does not appear to have attended university or studied for the Bar, he was sufficiently educated to write clear English and Latin. His interest in and knowledge of plants may have derived from his uncle, who maintained a botanical garden. Catesby also appears to have benefited from an acquaintance with John Ray, a leading English naturalist of the 17th century and the co-author of an early classic study of birds. It is unclear when or how Catesby developed his skills as an artist. Catesby's first visit to North America occurred in 1712 when he traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia, to live with his sister and her husband, who had settled there. During his seven-year stay, he explored the length of the James River sketching plants and collecting botanical samples. Upon Catesby's return to England in 1719, his work in Virginia drew the attention of several influential members of the Royal Society. And with their financial backing, Catesby returned to North America three years later, arriving in Charleston in May 1722. During his four-year stay, he traveled throughout South Carolina, coastal Georgia and to the Bahamas. The sketches and specimens Catesby gathered during his second North American trip formed the basis for The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands. Although most often found as a two-volume set, Catesby's Natural History was published in 11 discrete sections from 1734-1747 and sold by subscription. Although Catesby died in 1749, his work was republished in 1754 and again in 1771. Catesby's work predated the classification system developed by Swedish botanist Carl Linneaus. However, the 1771 edition, featured here, includes a catalog of the Linnean names for the plants and animals Catesby featured in Natural History.

Creator: Mark Catesby

Etching Mark Catesby, Anas Bahamensis 'the Ilathera Duck' Chrysanthemum &C T93

$412Sale Price|25% Off

Etching Mark Catesby, Anas Bahamensis 'the Ilathera Duck' Chrysanthemum &C T93

By Mark Catesby

Located in Vero Beach, FL

Etching Mark Catesby, Anas Bahamensis (The Ilathera Duck) Chrysanthemum &c T93. Wonderful print by the “Founder of American Ornithology”, Mark Catesby, from his 18th century monumental Natural History, the first natural history of American flora and fauna. A later small edition etching original hand coloring. Plate imprint on the paper. Later frame, back unopened. This is one of the finest natural science prints...

Category

18th Century American Other Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Glass, Giltwood, Paper

Mark Catesby Framed Etching 1754, Vol. 2 Pl. 46, The Copper-bellied Snake

$1,475

Mark Catesby Framed Etching 1754, Vol. 2 Pl. 46, The Copper-bellied Snake

By Mark Catesby

Located in Savannah, GA

"Mark Catesby (1683 – 1749) was an English self-taught artist and explorer who created one of the first folios examining the flora and fauna of North America. Catesby traveled to the...

Category

1750s English Other Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

The Lark, Mark Catesby, c.1754

$2,200

The Lark, Mark Catesby, c.1754

By Mark Catesby

Located in Savannah, GA

Mark Catesby (British, 1683-1749) Original Catesby entitled “The Lark” from Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands…, Volume I”, published London 1731-43. Hand-...

Category

1750s European Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Pl. 178 Antique Bird Print of a Crested Duck & Wood Duck by Lejeune 'c.1830'

$70Sale Price|20% Off

H 9.06 in W 5.71 in D 0.02 in

Pl. 178 Antique Bird Print of a Crested Duck & Wood Duck by Lejeune 'c.1830'

Located in Langweer, NL

Plate 178: '1. La Marreuse - 2. Le beau Canard huppé' (1. Crested Duck - 2. Wood Duck). This print originates from 'Oeuvres completes, - suivies de ses continuateurs Daubenton, Lacep...

Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Pair of Framed English Etchings

$450 / set

H 9.5 in W 7.5 in D 1 in

Pair of Framed English Etchings

Located in New York, NY

A pair of circa 1930's English prints with gilt frames. Measurements: Height: 9.5" Width: 7.5" Depth: 1"

Category

1930s English Vintage Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Giltwood, Paper

Antique Map of London by Tirion '1754'

$676

H 12.8 in W 18.31 in D 0.02 in

Antique Map of London by Tirion '1754'

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique map titled 'Kaart van Londen enz. en van het naby gelegen land ruim een Uur gaans rondsom dezelve Stad; getrokken uit de groote gemeeten Kaart van Hr. John Rocque'. In the se...

Category

Mid-18th Century Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the Lark, Winter Wren, Goldcrest and Yellow Wagtail (1886)

$97Sale Price|30% Off

H 14.34 in W 10.83 in D 0.02 in

Antique Bird Print of the Lark, Winter Wren, Goldcrest and Yellow Wagtail (1886)

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique bird print of various birds including the lark, winter wren, goldcrest, yellow wagtail and white wagtail. This print originates from 'De Vogelwerel...

Category

Late 19th Century Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the Mandarin Duck, Mallard and Wild Duck (1886)

$140

H 10.79 in W 14.34 in D 0.02 in

Antique Bird Print of the Mandarin Duck, Mallard and Wild Duck (1886)

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique bird print of various birds including the mandarin duck, mallard and wild duck. This print originates from 'De Vogelwereld. Handboek voor Liefhebbers van Kamer- en Parkvogels...

Category

Late 19th Century Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the Tufted Duck by Von Wright, 1929

$116

H 14.97 in W 11.03 in D 0.02 in

Antique Bird Print of the Tufted Duck by Von Wright, 1929

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique bird print titled 'Nyroca Fuligula'. Old bird print depicting the tufted duck. This print originates from 'Svenska Foglar Efter Naturen Och Pa Stenritade' by Magnus von Wright.

Category

Early 20th Century Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of the Church of St. Mark 'Venice' and Lord Mayor's Banquet

$139

H 16.07 in W 11.54 in D 0.02 in

Antique Print of the Church of St. Mark 'Venice' and Lord Mayor's Banquet

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique print with two illustrations titled 'The Church of St. Mark, Venice-View of the Facade which it is proposed to pull down and rebuild' and 'After the Feast-Distribution of the remains of the Lord Mayor...

Category

Late 19th Century Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the Garganey Duck by Von Wright '1929'

$116

H 14.97 in W 11.03 in D 0.02 in

Antique Bird Print of the Garganey Duck by Von Wright '1929'

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique bird print titled 'Anas (Querquedula) Querquedula'. Old bird print depicting the garganey duck. This print originates from 'Svenska Foglar Efter Naturen Och Pa Stenritade' by...

Category

Early 20th Century Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of a Duck by J.C. Bock, circa 1800

$525

H 16.93 in W 21.46 in D 0.02 in

Antique Print of a Duck by J.C. Bock, circa 1800

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique print titled 'Anas Cinerascens Bechst. Fem. Die aschgraue Ente'. Made after J.M. Hergenroeder.

Category

Early 19th Century Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Greenland & the North Pole – Antique Northern Hemisphere Map by Tirion, c.1754

$655Sale Price|25% Off

H 12.8 in W 14.77 in D 0.02 in

Greenland & the North Pole – Antique Northern Hemisphere Map by Tirion, c.1754

Located in Langweer, NL

Greenland & the North Pole – Antique Northern Hemisphere Map by Tirion, c.1754 ntique map titled 'Nieuwe Kaart van de Noord Pool na de alderlaatste ondekking int licht gebracht'. Ma...

Category

Mid-18th Century Dutch Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Hand-Colored Etching, the Venetian Lagoon, Italy – Framed

$365

H 0.5 in W 6 in D 12 in

Hand-Colored Etching, the Venetian Lagoon, Italy – Framed

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A lovely hand-colored etching showing the perspective plan of Venice, taken from the work Il Fiore di Venezia, a portfolio of Venetian paintings, monuments, views, and customs repres...

Category

1920s Italian International Style Vintage Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Paper

Copper Engraving with a Panoramic View of Mexico City, 1754

$513Sale Price|20% Off

H 10.12 in W 13.82 in D 0 in

Copper Engraving with a Panoramic View of Mexico City, 1754

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique print titled 'Nouveau Mexico'. Copper engraving with a panoramic view of Mexico city. This print originates from 'Histoire générale des voyages, ou nouvelle collection de...

Category

1750s Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

Previously Available Items

Set Of Six Framed Ornithological Prints

Sold

H 18.5 in W 14.75 in D 1.25 in

Set Of Six Framed Ornithological Prints

By Mark Catesby

Located in Essex, MA

Set of six ornithological prints from Recueil de divers Oiseaux e'trangers et peu communs, qui se trouvent dans les ouvrages de Mm Edwards et Catesby { Nuremberg} 1770-1773, after Ca...

Category

1750s German Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Glass, Paint, Paper

"Cancer Chelis Rubis & Titanokeratophyton" by Mark Catesby, 1771

Sold

H 27 in W 29.5 in D 1 in

"Cancer Chelis Rubis & Titanokeratophyton" by Mark Catesby, 1771

By Mark Catesby

Located in Kenilworth, IL

Hand colored copperplate engraving on laid paper. Plate No. 37. Vol #1 titled: “Cancer Chelis Rubis & Titanokeratophyton &c.” (The red clawed crab & the spiny sea-fan) from “The Natu...

Category

1770s British Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Materials

Paper

18th Century Engraving of a Hawksbill Sea Turtle by Mark Catesby

Sold

H 17 in W 21.5 in D 1 in

18th Century Engraving of a Hawksbill Sea Turtle by Mark Catesby

By Mark Catesby

Located in Rochester, NY

An original 18th century hand colored engraving on laid paper of the Hawksbill Sea Turtle with eggs - Natural History of the Carolinas, Florida, Bahamas - plate 139 - by Mark Catesby...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Handcolored Engraving by Mark Catesby

Sold

H 21 in W 24 in

Handcolored Engraving by Mark Catesby

By Mark Catesby

Located in San Francisco, CA

A handcolored engraving by Mark Catesby (English 1679-1749), Lepus Javensis: The Java Hare, depicting a small mammal, now french matted and frame...

Category

18th Century and Earlier English Antique Mark Catesby Prints

Mark Catesby prints for sale on 1stDibs.

Mark Catesby prints are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Mark Catesby prints, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Mark Catesby prints can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $550 and can go as high as $550, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $550.