Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio, et iconibus artificiosissimis expressio, per universam physices historiam
Subtitle: Opus, cui, in hoc rerum genere, nullum par exstitit
By: Ex toto terrarum orbe collegit, digessit, descripsit, et depingendum curavit Albertus Seba ...
Contributors: Boerhaave, Herman, 1668-1738; Gaubius, Hieronymus David, 1705?-1780; Massuet, Pierre, 1698-1776; Jancourt, L.; Musschenbroek, Petrus van, 1692-1761; Artedi, Peter, 1705-1735; Tanjé, P., 1706-1761, ill; Portalis, J. M., former owner; Carolyn Horton & Associates
Publisher: Apud J. Wetstenium, & Gul. Smith, & Janssonio-Waesbergios
Published: 1734
Place of publication: Amstelaedami
Language: lat; dut
Number of pages: 449
Subjects: Natural history; Pre-Linnean works; Pictorial works
Other titles: Description exacte des principales curiositez naturelles du magnifique cabinet d'Albert Seba; Cabinet de Seba; Thesaurus rerum naturalium
Notes: Text in Latin and French, with an introductory poem in Dutch.

Preface by Hermann Boerhaave. Tomes 3 and 4 were edited by H.D. Gaubius, P. Massuet, L. Jancourt, and P. van Musschenbroek. P. Artedi wrote most of the descriptions of fish. The illustrations were drawn and engraved by various artists, apparently under the supervision of P. Tanjé.

A thorough discussion of this publication appears in an article by L.B. Holthuis, "Albertus Seba's 'Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri ...' (1734-1765) and the 'Planches de Seba' (1827-1831)", in: Zoologische mededelingen, deel 43, no. 19 (1969), p. 239-[255].

Imprint of t. 4: Amstelaedami, apud H.C. Arksteum, et H. Merkum, et Petrum Schouten, 1765.

Tome 3 has printer's note on prelim. p.: "Lugduni Batavorum, Typis Eliae Luzac, Junioris"; the date that follows in Roman numerals seems to be 1769, but the CHMRB copy has an old paper tab partly pasted over the date, making it appear to be 1760 instead.

Collation of plates: t.1, CXI; t.2, CXIV; t.3, CXVI; t.4, CVIII; many of the plates are on double leaves.

Title printed in red and black.

Title vignette; initials; head- and tail-pieces, including some tail-pieces signed VLS.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Wood, C. Vertebrate zoology, p. 560.

BM (Natural history), p. 1889.

extracted picklist 20081216 BHLEX

SCNHRB has t. 1-2 only; CHMRB has a complete set (t. 1-4).

SCNHRB copy has a 2 p. prospectus for the edition bound in at the end of t. 1.

SCNHRB copy has an old, re-backed, blind- and gilt-tooled full leather binding with modern faux marbled endpapers and red sprinkled edges.

CHMRB copy has several hand-colored plates.

CHMRB copy has armorial bookplate: Ex libris bibliothecae comitis J.M. Portalis.

CHMRB copy has bookplate: Presented by the Misses Hewitt, February, 1922.

CHMRB copy has accession nos.: (t.1) 12163; (t.2) 12164; (t.3) 12165; (t.4) 12166.

CHMRB copy has some pencilled annotations throughout.

CHMRB copy is bound in old red quarter-leather over red paper boards; gilt-tooled spine; re-backed; typed binding restoration note, dated July 1978, by Carolyn Horton & Associates, is on back paste-down endpaper of t. 3.