Facets

1741 CE

#8024

El Orinoco ilustrado y defendido. Historia natural, civil y geográfica de este gran río y de sus caudalosas vertientes, govierno, usos, y costumbres de los indios sus habitadores, con nuevas, y utiles noticias de animales, arboles, frutos, aceytes, resinas, yervas, y raices medicinales ...

Inspired by the success of Acosta’s Natural History, Gumilla wrote lush descriptions of native life along the Orinoco River in Venezuela and Colombia. His characterization of local healing practices was informat…

1832 CE–1834 CE

#7773

A manual of the ornithology of the United States and of Canada. Vol. 1: The land birds. Vol. 2: The water birds.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1853 CE

#7445

A narrative of travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro, with an account of the native tribes and observations on the climate, geology and natural history of the Amazon Valley.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

2003 CE

#10183

A pest in the land: New World epidemics in a global perspective.

1735 CE

#8483

A voyage to Guinea, Brasil and the West Indies; in His Majesty's ships, the Swallow and Weymouth: Describing the several islands and Settlements, viz, Madeira, the Canaries, Cape de Verd, Sierraleon, Sesthos, Cape Apollonia, Cabo Corso, and others on the Guinea coast; Barbadoes, Jamaica, &c. in the West-Indies; the colour, diet, languages, habits, manners, customs, and religions of the respective natives, and inhabitants. With remarks on the gold, ivory, and slave-trade; and on the winds, tides and currents of the several coasts.

Atkins, surgeon on the voyage, included information about the slave trade and the natural history of the Gold Coast. "Atkins describes the manatee accurately, and tells much about fetish worship. He shows that there w…

1707 CE–1725 CE

#9914

A voyage to the islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica: With the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles, &c. of the last of those islands; to which is prefix'd, an introduction, wherein is an account of the inhabitants, air, waters, diseases, trade, &c. of that place, with some relations concerning the neighbouring continent, and islands of America. Illustrated with figures of the things described, which have not been heretofore engraved. In large copper-plates as big as the life. 2 vols.

As a youth Sloane collected objects of natural history and other curiosities. This led him to the study of medicine, which he went to London, where he studied botany, materia medica, surgery and pharmacy. His collecti…

1983 CE–1991 CE

#8945

Brasilien-Bibliothek der Robert Bosch GmbH. 2 vols. in 3.

"Vol. I, edited by Susanne Koppel, describes 684 works dating from the discovery of Brazil to the nineteenth century, on history, politics, literature, ethnology, geography, climate, botany, zoology and medicine. The …

1696 CE

#9915

Catalogus plantarum quae in insula Jamaica: Sponte proveniunt, vel vulgò coluntur cum earundem synonymis & locis natalibus, adjectis aliis quibusdam quae in insulis Maderae, Barbados, Nieves, & Sancti Christophori nascuntur, seu Prodromi historiae naturalis Jamaicae pars prima.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Archive at this link.

1658 CE

#1825

De Indiae utriusque re naturali et medica libri quatuordecim.

This is an extensively revised and enlarged second edition of Piso’s Historia naturalis Brasiliae (1648). In this edition Piso reprinted Bontius's De medicina Indorum (1642) with two additional books on Asian fl…

1787 CE

#13908

Descripcion de diferentes piezas de historia natura, las mas del ramo maritimo.

The first scientific book printed in Cuba. The striking illustrations are by the author's son, and depict fish, turtles, and crustacieans observed along the Cuban shoreline. The final section contains three alarming i…

1787 CE

#8026

Descripcion de diferentes piezas de historia natural las mas del ramo maritimo.

This catalogue of Carrbean fish was the first scientific treatise printed in Cuba and also the first illustrated book printed in Cuba. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1753 CE–1761 CE

#9923

En Resa til Norra America. 2 vols.

Between 1748 and 1749, Kalm, a Swedish naturalist and student of Linnaeus, traveled throughout northeast America, specifically in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Canada, surveying the countryside, an…

1801 CE

#13453

Essais sur l'histoire naturelle des quadupedes de la province du Paraguay...Ecrits depuis 1783 jusqu'en 1796 (an 4 de la Republique Française); Avec une appendice sur quelques reptiles, en formant suite nécessaire aux Oeuvres de Buffon; Traduits sur le manuscrit inédit de l'auteur par M. L. E. Moreau-Saint-Méry.

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link. Published as Apuntamientos par ala historia natural de los Páxaros del Paragüay y Rio de la Plata. 2 vols. Madrid: La Imprenta de la Viuda…

1769 CE

#5304

Essay on the natural history of Guiana, in South America. Containing a description of many curious productions in the animal and vegetable systems of that country. Together with an account of the religion, manners, and customs of several tribes of its Indian inhabitants. Interspersed with a variety of literary and medical observations. In several letters....

Bancroft was an English physician who lived for many years in South America. He noted the transmission of yaws by flies (p. 385 of his book). Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1814 CE

#7876

Flora Americae septentrionalis; or, a systematic arrangement and description of the plants of North America. Containing, besides what have been described by preceding authors, many new and rare species, collected during twelve years travels and residence in that country. 2 vols.

The first survey of all plants of North America above Mexico, including more than 3,000 species and 470 genera; describes more than 100 species collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Digital facsimile from Botan…

1846 CE

#8918

Geological observations on South America. Being the third part of the geology of the voyage of the Beagle.

The third and last of Darwin's geological reports on the Beagle voyage. In it he described the pampas, the plateaus and the Andres, showing how they had been gradually pushed up in the way that Charles Lyell surmised …

1996 CE

#8926

Histoire naturelle des Indes. The Drake manuscript in The Pierpont Morgan Library.... Foreward by Patrick O'Brian. Introduction by Verlyn Klinkenborg. Translations by Ruth Kraemer.

"In 1983, The Morgan Library & Museum received, as the bequest of Clara S. Peck, an extraordinary volume whose beautiful paintings and descriptions document the plant, animal, and human life of the Caribbean late in t…

1844 CE–1871 CE

#9067

Historia fisica y politica de Chile, segun documentos adquiridos en esta Republica durante doce años de residencia en ella .... 28 vols. text plus 2 vols. atlas. (30 vols.).

Gay, a French botanist, was commissioned in 1830 by the government of Chile to carry out a thorough scientific survey of the country, and to produce a detailed description of its geography, geology and natural history…

1648 CE

#2263.1

Historia naturalis Brasiliae.

Piso's study of the natural history of Brazil was also a pioneer work on tropical medicine, and also the largest work from the standpoint of format published by the Elzeviers. The folio includes De medicina brasiliens…

1864 CE

#8109

Le Mexique et l'Amérique tropicale: climats, hygiène et maladies.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1719 CE

#13450

Mariæ Sibillæ Merian Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium: In quâ, præter vermes et erucas Surinamenses, earumque admirandam metamorphosin, plantæ, flores & fructus, quibus vescuntur, & quibus fuerunt inventæ, exhibentur. His adjunguntur bufones, lacerti, serpentes, araneæ, aliaque admiranda istius regionis animalcula

Originally as Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium. Amsterdam, 1705. The 1719 contains 12 additional plates and corresponding text, 10 provided by the author's daughters from material left at her death, and 2 suppli…

1908 CE

#7444

Notes of a botanist on the Amazon & Andes, being records of travel on the Amazon and its tributaries, the Trombetas, Rio Negro, Uaupés, Casiquiari, Pacimoni, Huallaga, and Pastas; as also to the cataracts of the Orinoco, along the eastern side of the Andes of Peru and Ecuador, and the shores of the Pacific during the years 1849-1864. Edited and condensed by Alfred Russel Wallace..., with a biographical introduction, portrait, seventy-one illustrations and seven maps. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1847 CE

#7305

Notice sur des ossements humains fossiles, trouvés dans une caverne du Brésil.

Lund, a student of Cuvier, excavated extensively in the region of Lagoa Santa, an area rich in caves and karst formations comprising the northern part of Greater Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Between 1835 and 1843 he coll…

1759 CE

#1770

Observations on the changes of the air and the concomitant epidemical diseases, in the Island of Barbados.

Hillary included good accounts of lead colic and infective hepatitis, and probably the first description of sprue (celiac disease).

1751 CE

#7677

Observations on the inhabitants, climate, soil, rivers, productions, animals, and other matter worthy of notice. Made by Mr. John Bartram, in his travels from Pensilvania to Onondago, Oswego and the Lake Ontario, in Canada. To which is annex'd, a curious account of the cataracts at Niagara, by Mr. Peter Kalm....

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.

1853 CE

#8242

Palm trees of the Amazon.

Wallace's first book, printed in an edition of only 250 copies. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1615 CE

#1820.1

Quatro libros. De la naturaleza, y virtudes de las plantas, y animales que estan receuidos en el vso de medicina en la Nueua España, y la methodo, y correccion, y preparacion, que para administrallas se requiere con lo que el doctor Francisco Hernandez escriuio en lengua latina. : Muy vtil para todo genero de gente q[ue] viue en esta[n]cias y pueblos, de no ay medicos, ni botica.Traduzido, y aumentados muchos simples, y compuestos y otros muchos secretos curatiuos, por Fr. Francisco Ximenes....

Physician to Philip II of Spain, Hernández travelled to Mexico by order of the king, and studied the natural history of the region from 1570-77. His Works, which filled six folio volumes of text and 10 volumes …

1857 CE–1859 CE

#10514

Report on the United States and Mexican boundary survey: Made under the direction of the secretary of the Interior

Vol. 1, pt. by W. H. Emory. Vol. 1, pt. 2: Geological reports by C.C. Parry and Arthur Schott, notes by W. H. Emory; Paleontology and geology of the boundary by James Hall; Description of cretaceous and tertiary fossi…

1628 CE

#1821.1

Rerum medicarum Novae Hispaniae thesaurus, seu, Plantarum animalium mineralium Mexicanorum historia.

This summary of Hemández’s very extensive manuscript account of the natural history of Mexico (see No. 1820.1) was edited by N.A. de Recchi, and published at the expense of Prince Federico Cesi (1585-1630…

2014 CE

#7936

Science in the vanished arcadia: Knowledge of nature in the Jesuit missions of Paraguay and Rio de La Plata.

An overview of Jesuit scientific production in Paraguay during the 17th and 18th centuries, including natural history, medicine, cartography, astronomy, and practical science.

1618 CE

#9052

Sitio, naturaleza y propriedades de la Ciudad de Mexico: Aguas y vientos a que esta suieta, y tiempos del año. Necessidad de su conocimiento para el exercicio de la medicina, su incertidumbre y difficultad sin el de la astrologia assi para la curacion como para los prognosticos.

The first book printed in Mexico with engraved illustrations.

1525 CE

#1800

Sumario de la natural historia de las Indias.

First known description of the medicinal plants of Central America. Oviedo first described chigoe (“jiggers”?) in this book. "The book is divided into 86 chapters, focused mostly on American flora and faun…

1519 CE

#9962

Summa de Geografia que trata de todas las partidas e provincias del mundo en especial de las indias e trata largamente del arte del marcar...

This was the first book on the Americas printed in Spanish. "Enciso was the first conquistadore to take up his pen with educational intent." In this general treatise on geography Enciso included a discussion of the fa…

1843 CE–1859 CE

#7448

The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H. M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the years 1839-1843.

Part 1: Flora of Lord Auckland and Campbell's Islands (1843-45); Part 2: Flora of Fuegia, the Falklands, Karguellen's land, etc. (1845-47); Part 3: Flora of New Zealand. 2 vols. (1851-53); Part 4: Flora of Tasmania. 2…

1756 CE

#13448

The civil and natural history of Jamaica. In three parts, containing 1. An accurate description of that Island, its situation and soil; with a brief account of its former and present state, government, revenues, produce, and trade. II. A history of the natural productions, including the various sorts of native fossils, perfect and imperfect vegetables, quadrupedes, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; with their properties and uses in mechanics, diet, and physic. III. An account of the nature of climate in general, and their different effects upon the human body; with a detail of the diseases arising from this source, particularly within the tropics....illustrated with fifty copper-plates...in natural size....

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1918 CE

#11014

The medical report of the Rice Expedition to Brazil.

The expedition was led by Alexander H. Rice, Jr., an American physician, geographer, geologist and explorer noted for his expeditions to the Amazon Basin. "As a geographer and explorer Rice specialized in rivers.[1][7…

1880 CE

#8976

The natural & moral history of Indies, by Father Joseph de Acosta. Reprinted from the English translated edition of Edward Grimston, 1604. And edited, with notes and an introduction by Clements R. Markham. Vol. 1: The natural history. Vol. 2: The moral history. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.

1731 CE–1747 CE

#9571

The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants: Particularly, the forest-trees, shrubs, and other plants, not hitherto described, or very incorrectly figured by authors. Together with their descriptions in English and French. To which are added observations on the air, soil and waters: With remarks on agriculture, grain, pulse, roots &c. To the whole is prefixed a new and complete map of the countries treated of. 2 vols.

The only attempt to record the natural history of a region of America during the colonial period. Includes 220 fine handcolored etched plates after and by Catesby and mostly signed with his cipher, excepting plates 61…

1874 CE

#7443

The naturalist in Nicaragua: A narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests, with observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of evolution of living forms.

In this book Belt first described "the mutualistic relationship of certain Acacias and the ant we now know as Pseudomyrmex spinicola. These are a species of red myrmecophyte-inhabiting neotropical ants which are found…

1863 CE

#7442

The naturalist on the river Amazons, a record of adventures, habits of animals, sketches of Brazilian and Indian life, and aspects of nature under the equator, during eleven years of travel. 2 vols.

Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.

1840 CE–1843 CE

#7437

The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R. N., during the years 1832 to 1836. Edited by Charles Darwin. 5 pts in 3 vols.

Part 1: Fossil mammalia by Richard Owen; Part 2: Mammalia by George Waterhouse; Part 3: Birds by John Gould; Part 4: Fish by Leonard Jenyns; Part 5: Reptiles by Thomas Bell. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive…

1855 CE

#11522

Topografía médica de la isla de Cuba.

Digital facsimile from the U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

1900 CE

#4131.1

Un nuevo esporozoario parásito del hombre. Dos casos encontrados en pólipos nasales: Tesis presentada para optar al grado de doctor en medicina.

Rhinosporidiosis first described. Digital facsimile from bibliomedicinadigital.fmed.uba.ar at this link.

1807 CE–1834 CE

#7452

Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du nouveau continent, fait en 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804. 34 vols.

In 1799 Humboldt and Bonpland embarked on a six-year tour of research through South America and Mexico, a trip which would afterwards be called, justifiably, "the scientific discovery of America." The two amassed exha…

1809 CE

#12827

Voyages d'un Naturaliste, et ses observations. Faites sur les trois règnes de la Nature, dans plusieurs ports de mer français, en Espagne, au continent de l'Amerique septentrionale, à Saint-Yago de Cuba, et à St.-Domingue, où l'Auteur devenu le prisonnier de 40,000 Noirs révoltés, et par suite mis en liberté par une colonne de l'armée française, donne des détails circonstanciés sur l'expédition du général Leclerc. Dédiés à ... le Comte de Lacépède. 3 vols.

One of the more unusually titled travel accounts including the mention that "the author became the prisoner of 40,000 black revolutionaries, and was rescued by the French army." "Following his marriage to the daughter…