Synopses & Reviews
Without our oceans, which cover almost 72 percent of our planet, Earth simply could not existand#8212;or humanity survive. Join author Melanie Stiassny from the American Museum of Natural History on an epic, oceanic journey. These fascinating essays, taken from the museum's Rare Book Collections, expand on the science behind the early histories that shaped the study of oceanography. They take close-up looks at coral, jellyfish, sea worms, whales, sharks, squid, and more, and provide accounts from legendary explorers and early naturalists. This gorgeously illustrated volume,and#160;which includes 40 frameable prints,and#160;will appeal to every seafaring and natural-science enthusiast.and#160;The Natural Histories series introduces today's readers to lost, fully illustrated scientific tomes from the American Museum of Natural History Library's Rare Book Collections. The museum's top experts provide interesting facts and commentary that enrich the original material and appeal to nature, science, and art lovers.
Review
"...a truly stunning collection of rare prints covering a litany of topics. Whether readers choose to focus on the 40 prints just begging for frames that are included in the box or the often breathtaking images in the book itself, they'll quickly find themselves sucked into this fantastically assembled and informative work of natural and human history . . . armchair naturalists, archeologists, and anthropologists will have a field day with this lovingly curated collection. Remarkable for its editing as well as its breadth of scope (even the binding of Victorian natural history books is studied), this gem of a book is one of the best in its class.” --
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"...this collection from the AMNH is sure to please. It presents rare essays and artwork about the natural sciences along with a selection of prints for display." --TIME magazine
Review
". . . a truly stunning collection . . . Remarkable for its editing as well as its breadth of scope (even the binding of Victorian natural history books is studied), this gem of a book is one of the best in its class.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"...aand#160;truly stunning collection of rare prints covering a litany of topics. Whether readers choose to focus on the 40 prints just begging for frames that are included in the box or the often breathtaking images in the book itself, they'll quickly find themselves sucked into this fantastically assembled and informative work of natural and human history . . . armchair naturalists, archeologists, and anthropologists will have a field day with this lovingly curated collection. Remarkable for its editing as well as its breadth of scope (even the binding of Victorian natural history books is studied), this gem of a book is one of the best in its class.and#8221; and#8212;
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"...this collection from the AMNH is sure to please. It presents rare essays and artwork about the natural sciences along with a selection of prints for display." and#8212;TIME magazine
and#8220;Baione (dir., American Museum of Natural History Lib.) examines book illustrations found in the library of New York City's American Museum of Natural History. The volume also gathers 40 essays written by the museum's librarians, researchers, curators, and administrators. They discuss woodcuts, etchings, engravings, and lithographs from books published between the 16th and early 20th centuries on topics in the natural sciences. The book presents many full-page, color reproductions of illustrations of insects, sea animals, birds, and mammals, accompanied by historical descriptions. Also included is a 19th-century astronomical atlas and a collection of portraits of Native Americans. The museum has published many books that discuss its collections...Baione's is the first to focus on book illustrations. It is packaged with 40 frameable prints. VERDICT - Combining well-chosen reproductions and interesting essays, this book would be a great choice for readers of National Geographic and the like.and#8221; and#8212;Library Journal
" . . . a beautiful boxed set that includes a softcover book of essays and illustrations and 40 loose plates housed in an illustrated clamshell box. The plates are frame-worthy copies of some of the illustrations used in the essay volume. The writing style is directed to a general reading audience, and is appropriate for undergraduates looking for introductory information. The short essays are informative and excite interest in further study.and#8221; and#8212;Choice
Synopsis
Inside the American Museum of Natural History is an eight-story libraryand#8212;one of the largest natural-science libraries in the Western Hemisphereand#8212;that contains over 450,000 volumes of monographs, pamphlets, reprints, and original rare books. Natural Histories allows readers a privileged glimpse of these seldom-seen, fully illustrated scientific works. Forty essays from the museum's top experts in a variety of disciplines enhance each rare tome's unique qualities and scientific contribution, and three to four illustrations accompany each one. This beautiful book will fascinate natural science and art lovers alike.
Synopsis
For the first time, Natural Histories allows readers a privileged glimpse of seldom-seen, fully illustrated scientific tomes from the American Museum of Natural History's Rare Book Collection. Forty essays from the museum's top experts in a variety of natural science disciplines, from anthropology to zoology, enhance and discuss each rare work's unique qualities and scientific contribution. Packaged with 40 extraordinary prints suitable for framing, this deluxe edition will fascinate both natural science and art lovers alike.
Synopsis
Join author Melanie Stiassny from the American Museum of Natural History on an epic, oceanic journey. These fascinating essays expand on the science behind the early, rare histories that shaped oceanography. Theyand#160;provide close-up looks at coral, jellyfish, sea worms, whales, sharks, squid, and more, along with accounts from legendary explorers and early naturalists. This gorgeously illustrated volume will appeal to every seafaring and natural-science enthusiast.
Synopsis
The American Museum of Natural Historyand#39;s Rare Book Collection contains some of the most extraordinary, vivid images from the natural worldandmdash;and this beautiful gift box is perfect for any nature enthusiast. It features 60 stunning postcards printed with the best selections from the museumandrsquo;s Research library, divided into six categories (each with ten cards). The selections include: Fish, Mollusks and Other Animals, Insects, Reptiles and Amphibians, Birds, and Mammals. An informative ten-page accordion-style booklet provides additional details about the pictures and collection, and the box itself can be used for storing stationery and mementos.
Synopsis
A classic book gets a new, redesigned, and sumptuous edition in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Updated and revised, Gems and Crystals showcases the museumand#39;s renowned collection and unlocks the science behind the dazzling properties of each gemstone species. Nearly 150 key varieties of gems and minerals are profiled, with information on their history, lore, and sources, as well as the relationships among the bewildering variety of crystals, minerals, rocks, and gemstones. Extensively researched and stunningly illustrated, this very special volume will fascinate novice and expert alike.
Synopsis
The American artist and naturalist Titian Ramsay Peale II (1799andndash;1885) had a passion for butterflies, and throughout his long life he wrote and illustrated an ambitious and comprehensive manuscript. The book, along with a companion volume on caterpillars, was never published, and it resides today in the Rare Book Collection of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Now Pealeandrsquo;s color plates, lovingly prepared for the printer by the artist more than 100 years ago, will be published for the first time in this beautiful volume. At last, Pealeandrsquo;s life work, equivalent in scope and beauty to Audubonandrsquo;s Birds of North America, will be available to a wide audience. The book includes a foreword by Ellen V. Futter and text by Kenneth Haltman and David A. Grimaldi that describes the art and science Peale brought to his extraordinary work.and#160;and#160;
About the Author
George E. Harlow, PhD, Chairman of the Department of Mineral Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History, is an eminent mineralogist and crystallographer. While interested in a broad range of geologic topics, he specializes in the study of rock-forming minerals, and has recently carried out research on the jadeite variety of jade, examining the source in Guatemala and the provenance of jade for New World jade artifacts.
Anna S. Sofianides has a masterandrsquo;s degree in geochemistry and geology and is an alumna of the Gemological Institute of America. Now retired, she worked for 23 years in the Department of Mineral Sciences at the American Museum of Natural History. A tireless researcher, Ms. Sofianides has been collecting data on gemstones and the Museumandrsquo;s collection since 1974.
and#160;
Harold and Erica Van Pelt are recognized among the top photographers of gems and gemstones in the world. Their work has appeared in Lapidary Journal, Gems and Gemology, Rock and Gem, and Mineralogical Record.
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The American Museum of Natural History is one of the worldandrsquo;s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has pursued its missionandmdash;to discover, interpret, and share information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universeandmdash;through a broad program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.
Each year, approximately five million visitors experience the Museumandrsquo;s 45 permanent exhibition galleries, which include some of the worldandrsquo;s greatest dioramas, fossil halls, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, home of the Hayden Planetarium. The Museumandrsquo;s collections, only a tiny fraction of which are on view, surpass 33 million specimens and artifacts. They are an invaluable resource for the Museumandrsquo;s 200 scientists, for graduate students in its Richard Gilder Graduate Schoolandmdash;the Western Hemisphereandrsquo;s only museum-based PhD-granting programandmdash;and for researchers around the world.