The Plate Room
31,861 woodcuts, engravings and hand-coloured plates of living things, cut from the pages of herbals, bestiaries and natural histories scanned by the world's libraries and gathered in the Source Library. Every plate links to the page it came from. For one herbal read cover to cover, visit the Herball Room.
A scientific plate (Table 2) featuring twenty-five numbered woodcut illustrations of various crustaceans, including lobsters, crabs, and shrimp.
1618 · Ulyssis Aldrovandi ... De reliquis animalibus exanguibus, utpote de mollibus, crustaceis, testaceis & zoophytis, libri quatuor post mortem eius editi
A plate of scientific woodcuts depicting various insects, spiders, worms, and starfish.
1618 · Ulyssis Aldrovandi ... De animalibus insectis libri septem
A full-page scientific plate of scorpions, spiders, and centipedes.
1618 · Ulyssis Aldrovandi ... De animalibus insectis libri septem
An engraving of a stag with large antlers grazing in a wooded landscape.
1618 · Second Treatise on the Ape of Nature, or the Technical History of the Macrocosm
Woodcut of a two-headed sheep standing on a small patch of ground.
1621 · History of All Cloven-Hoofed Quadrupeds
Woodcut of two sheep, one of which features a human-like face.
1621 · History of All Cloven-Hoofed Quadrupeds
A full-page scientific plate (Tab. I) illustrating various cephalopods and marine mollusks, including octopuses, cuttlefish, squid, and sea hares.
1623 · Vlyssis Aldrovandi Philosophi Ac Medici Bononiensis Historiam Naturalem in Gymnasio ibidem olim profitentis De Reliquis Animalibus exanguibus, utpote De Mollibus, De Crustaceis, De Testaceis & De Zoophytis Libri Quatuor Post mortem eius editi
A comprehensive scientific plate from Ulisse Aldrovandi's 'De Reliquis Animalibus Exanguibus' depicting various marine invertebrates, including sea anemones (Urtica marina), jellyfish (Pulmo marinus), holothurians, and z
1623 · Vlyssis Aldrovandi Philosophi Ac Medici Bononiensis Historiam Naturalem in Gymnasio ibidem olim profitentis De Reliquis Animalibus exanguibus, utpote De Mollibus, De Crustaceis, De Testaceis & De Zoophytis Libri Quatuor Post mortem eius editi
A full-page plate (Tabula XVI) featuring multiple woodcut illustrations of marine mollusks and the legendary barnacle goose.
1623 · Vlyssis Aldrovandi Philosophi Ac Medici Bononiensis Historiam Naturalem in Gymnasio ibidem olim profitentis De Reliquis Animalibus exanguibus, utpote De Mollibus, De Crustaceis, De Testaceis & De Zoophytis Libri Quatuor Post mortem eius editi
An engraving of various animals across land, sea, and air, titled FIGVRA XXXI.
1624 · Viridarium chymicum figuris cupro incisis adornatum, et poeticis picturis illustratum. Ita ut non tantum oculorum et animi recreationem suppeditet, sed et profundiorem rerum naturalium considerationem excitet, adhaec forma sua oblonga amicorum albo inservire queat
Botanical illustration of a tobacco plant showing its roots, large leaves, and flowering stalks, with a butterfly in the lower right corner.
1626 · Synopsis of Measures and Weights
A vertical sequence of six woodcut illustrations of grasshoppers and locusts.
1634 · Theater of Insects
A memento mori emblem featuring an iris and other flowers within an oval frame, topped by an hourglass and flanked by two winged putti.
1635 · Crüger, Peter: Doctrina Astronomie sphaerica
Two woodcut illustrations comparing the form of an Ibis bird to the structure of the Greek letter Alpha, as part of Kircher's study of Coptic and Hieroglyphic origins.
1636 · The Coptic or Egyptian Forerunner
Detailed botanical engraving of Cnicus Sativus (safflower) and two varieties of Chamamelum Romanum (Roman chamomile).
1640 · Hortus Eystettensis
Woodcut of a seven-headed hydra climbing a vertical surface.
1640 · History of Serpents and Dragons
A woodcut of a monstrous rooster with a serpentine tail, identified in the text as 'Gallus monstrosus cauda anguina'.
1640 · History of Serpents and Dragons
A large woodcut of a wingless, two-legged dragon or serpent, identified in the text as 'Draco bipes apteros captus in Agro Bononiensi'.
1640 · Serpentum et Draconum Historiae
A woodcut illustration of a winged dragon with a coiled tail, identified in the text as 'Draconis Alati figura ex Pareo'.
1640 · History of Serpents and Dragons
A woodcut illustration of a 'Jenny Haniver', a taxidermy specimen created from a dried ray or skate to resemble a dragon.
1640 · Serpentum et Draconum Historiae
Woodcut illustration of two mermen with human upper bodies and fish tails.
1643 · Athanasii Kircheri... Magnes sive de arte magnetica
Anatomical plate 'TABULA II. CAP. VIII.' containing five figures (I-V) illustrating the internal organs of a quadruped.
1647 · Anatomical Compendium (Syntagma Anatomicum) (1647)
An emblem featuring a figure in Roman military attire standing next to an olive tree with a scroll reading 'PACIS OPVS'.
1647 · Anatomical Compendium (Syntagma Anatomicum) (1647)
Woodcut illustration of a Buff-necked Ibis (Curicaca).
1648 · Historia naturalis Brasiliae
Hand-colored woodcut of two hummingbirds
1648 · Historia naturalis Brasiliae
Hand-colored woodcut of a Jacupema bird, a species of pheasant from Brazil.
1648 · Historia naturalis Brasiliae
Woodcut illustration of a bird, identified in the text as a Manucodiata (Bird of Paradise).
1648 · Historia naturalis Brasiliae
A composite engraving showing a group of people in a landscape and the capture of elephants.
1648 · Wondrous Voyage (Circumnavigation)
Woodcut illustration depicting petrified humans and animals, including camels and sheep, in a landscape.
1648 · Musaeum metallicum
Engraving of various birds with accompanying musical notation representing their songs.
1650 · Musurgia Universalis (Universal Music)
An engraving comparing the proportions of an Equisetum (horsetail) plant to musical intervals mapped onto a vertical staff.
1650 · Musurgia Universalis, Vol. II
Botanical illustration of the Hoitziloxitl plant (Arbor Balsami Indici), showing the whole plant with roots, leaves, and pods, plus detailed views of a leaf and a seed cross-section.
1651 · Treasury of Medical Matters of New Spain
Botanical woodcut of the Coatzonte Coxochitl plant, showing a large spotted flower, a bud, leaves, and a bulbous root system.
1651 · Treasury of Medical Matters of New Spain
An engraving of a sow with a litter of piglets, carved in relief on a stone block, illustrating the 'Sus Albana' or the sow of Alba Longa.
1651 · Thesaurus of Medical Things of New Spain, or History of Mexican Plants, Animals, and Minerals
A landscape woodcut depicting New World flora and a bison.
1651 · Thesaurus of Medical Things of New Spain, or History of Mexican Plants, Animals, and Minerals
Detailed engraving of a torpedo fish (electric ray) showing its dorsal markings and tail.
1654 · Athanasii Kircheri Societatis Jesu Magnes sive de arte magnetica opus tripartium quo universa magnetis natura, eiusque in omnibus scientiis & artibus usus, nova medthodo explicatur, ac praeterae e viribus & prodigiosis effectibus magneticarum, aliarumque abditarum naturae motionum in elementis, lapidibus, plantis, animalibus, elucescentium, multa hucusque incognita natureae arcana, per physica, medica, chymica, & mathematica omnis generis experimenta recluduntur
Detailed engraving of a Great Northern Diver (loon) in profile.
1655 · The Wormian Museum (Museum Wormianum)
Two circular illustrations of an ancient silver coin from Cyrene showing a male profile and the Silphium plant.
1655 · Medical Compositions
An engraving of a hippopotamus, showing its body and two different views of its head, accompanied by Chinese characters.
1656 · Flora Sinensis (Chinese-Latin Natural History)
A detailed illustration of a spotted leopard in a landscape with a pine tree and rocks, accompanied by Chinese characters.
1656 · Flora Sinensis (Chinese-Latin Natural History)
Botanical woodcut of a Curcuma (turmeric) plant showing leaves, flowers, and seed pods.
1658 · De Indiae utriusque re naturali et medica
Woodcut illustration of a parrot perched on a branch, identified as Aiuru or Araca.
1658 · De Indiae utriusque re naturali et medica
A woodcut illustration depicting various species of birds in a landscape, including ostriches, ducks, and birds perched in trees, with several figures numbered for identification.
1658 · The Visible World
An engraving titled 'Aves Domesticae' or 'Tame Fowl' showing various domestic and common birds in a farmyard setting, with each bird numbered for identification.
1658 · The Visible World
A woodcut illustration depicting various wild animals in a landscape, including deer, goats, a unicorn, and other quadrupeds, each marked with a number.
1658 · The Visible World
Woodcut illustration of various 'Labouring Beasts' including an elephant, camel, horse, donkey, and mule, each marked with a number.
1658 · The Visible World
Emblem of various birds perched on a branch, illustrating the proverb 'Birds of a feather flock together'.
1658 · Alle de wercken
Two large sturgeons (Sturio) depicted vertically side-by-side, showing their characteristic bony plates (scutes) and elongated snouts.
1661 · De Piscibus Libri V et De Cetis Liber Unus
A large, detailed woodcut of a sturgeon (Acipenser), shown in a vertical profile.
1661 · De Piscibus Libri V et De Cetis Liber Unus
Large vertical woodcut of a Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso)
1661 · De Piscibus Libri V et De Cetis Liber Unus
Engraving of a hoopoe bird (Upupa) flanked by two scepters topped with hoopoe heads.
1666 · Obeliscus Aegyptiacus
Woodcut illustration of the mythical bird Tuofei (橐𩇯) from the Shanhai Jing.
1667 · 山海經 (Shānhǎi Jīng), Vol. 2
Woodcut illustration of a bird and a rat sharing a burrow in a mound.
1667 · 山海經 (Shānhǎi Jīng), Vol. 2
A detailed woodcut illustration of a chameleon, shown in profile with its tail curled.
1671 · The Great Art of Light and Shadow
Woodcut emblem of Arion with a lyre on a dolphin
1671 · Pinax Theatri botanici
Circular engraving of a bird's nest in a tree, illustrating petrification.
1678 · Mundus Subterraneus
A series of numbered illustrations of various bird species, including domestic fowl, water birds, songbirds, and birds of prey, arranged in horizontal rows.
1678 · Vorpforte der Schul-Unterweisung
Topographical landscape of Mount Pilatus and Lake Lucerne featuring a flying dragon.
1678 · Mundus Subterraneus
Botanical engraving of various orchid species exhibiting anthropomorphic and zoomorphic features, including bird-like and human-like flowers.
1678 · The Subterranean World Volume Two
A hen lying on a tiled floor with its feet bound, facing a line drawn on the pavement.
1680 · Physiologia Kircheriana Experimentalis