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.
Scientific plate featuring an albatross skull, a double egg, and two pendulous bird nests.
1681 · Museum of the Royal Society
Engraved plate (Tab. 4) featuring a crocodile skeleton, a rattlesnake's tail, an elephant's tusk, and a 'Wesan'.
1681 · Museum of the Royal Society
A scientific plate (Tab. 8) featuring engravings of various fish and starfish, including the Square Acarauna, Mailed Fish of Brasile, Smooth Star-Fish, and Crowned Star-Fish, with a scale bar.
1681 · Museum of the Royal Society
Botanical plate (Tab. IV) showing various plant anatomical structures including beech wood, leaf stalks, flowers, and seeds.
1682 · The Anatomy of Plants (Vol. 2)
Engraved plate showing a microscopic cross-section of a dandelion root (Taraxacum).
1682 · The Anatomy of Plants (Vol. 2)
Microscopic cross-section of a horse-radish root with a small inset of the whole root segment.
1682 · The Anatomy of Plants (Vol. 2)
Detailed botanical engraving of Hina Paretti (Hibiscus mutabilis) showing flowers, buds, and leaves.
1683 · Garden of Malabar, Vol. 2 (Hortus Indicus Malabaricus)
Circular emblem featuring figures in a garden setting with a Latin motto.
1683 · Garden of Malabar, Vol. 1
Detailed botanical engraving of banana plants (Musa species) showing different growth stages, leaves, and fruit clusters.
1683 · Garden of Malabar, Vol. 1
A landscape scene depicting a bird-catcher's setup with a hut, nets, and various birds.
1685 · Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The Visible World in Pictures)
Woodcut illustration of various field and forest birds numbered for identification.
1685 · Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The Visible World in Pictures)
Woodcut illustration of various birds on a rocky cliff by the sea.
1685 · Orbis Sensualium Pictus (The Visible World in Pictures)
Botanical illustration of Ranunculus aethiopicus
1686 · Jan Moninckx; Maria Moninckx — Moninckx Atlas, vol. 5 (1686)
Botanical illustration of Angelica arborescens spinosa
1686 · Jan Moninckx; Maria Moninckx — Moninckx Atlas, vol. 5 (1686)
A scientific plate of botanical engravings showing various plant structures, including buds, stems, and cross-sections, labeled Fig. 39 through Fig. 49.
1687 · Marcelli Malpighii ... opera omnia, seu thesaurus locupletissimus botanico-medico-anatomicus, viginti quatuor tractatus complectens et in duos tomos distributus ...
A scientific plate (Tab. III) containing four detailed engravings (Fig. 1-4) of branching biological structures, likely plant vessels or anatomical pathways.
1687 · Marcelli Malpighii ... opera omnia, seu thesaurus locupletissimus botanico-medico-anatomicus, viginti quatuor tractatus complectens et in duos tomos distributus ...
Magnified engraving of a cumin seed with a life-sized reference.
1687 · Micrographia nova: sive nova & curiosa variorum minutorum corporum singularis cujusdam & noviter
Microscopic views of turnip, celery, and cabbage seeds with scale indicators.
1687 · Micrographia nova: sive nova & curiosa variorum minutorum corporum singularis cujusdam & noviter
Botanical engraving of three Valeriana specimens.
1690 · Introductio Generalis in Rem Herbariam
Botanical engraving of Valeriana Canadensis showing the full plant structure.
1690 · Introductio Generalis in Rem Herbariam
Botanical engraving of a Horminum plant, showing detailed leaf venation and flowering spikes.
1690 · Introductio Generalis in Rem Herbariam
Detailed botanical engraving of a Hyoscyamus (Henbane) plant.
1690 · Introductio Generalis in Rem Herbariam
A detailed engraved plate featuring twenty numbered scientific diagrams (Fig. 1-20) of microscopic organisms and anatomical parts, including larvae, eggs, and insect limbs.
1695 · Secrets of Nature Discovered
Scientific plate showing various views and life stages of an insect, with anatomical labels.
1695 · Secrets of Nature Discovered
Woodcut illustration of various waterfowl in a landscape with water and clouds.
1698 · The Visible World (Orbis Sensualium Pictus)
Woodcut illustration of various songbirds in a tree and in cages, numbered for identification.
1698 · The Visible World (Orbis Sensualium Pictus)
Woodcut illustration of domestic birds in a farmyard, with various species numbered for identification.
1698 · The Visible World (Orbis Sensualium Pictus)
Woodcut illustration of a bird in a nest on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea, with numbered parts for identification.
1698 · The Visible World (Orbis Sensualium Pictus)
A drawing of a pigeon with rooster-like wattles, standing on a small patch of ground, enclosed in a simple rectangular frame.
1700 · Manuscript containing illustrations of strange beasts and men, women and children. (Italian MS 63)
Hand-drawn illustration of a hybrid creature with the body of a horse and the head and horns of a goat, standing on a small patch of earth.
1700 · Manuscript containing illustrations of strange beasts and men, women and children. (Italian MS 63)
A hand-colored engraving showing two large hailstones in the upper panel and a jerboa in the lower panel.
1700 · Voyage au Levant, c'est à dire dans les principaux endroits de l'Asie Mineure, dans les isles de Chio, d...
A hand-colored botanical engraving of a banana plant (Musa), identified in the caption as 'Dudaïm' (mandrakes) found by Reuben. The plate shows the mature plant with broad leaves and a drooping flower bud, alongside deta
1700 · Mosaic History of the Hebrew Church
Intricate woodcut headpiece featuring a central figure surrounded by acanthus scrolls and floral motifs.
1703 · New Genera of American Plants
A comprehensive botanical plate illustrating various species of fungi and mushrooms, labeled A through K, showing diverse cap shapes, gill structures, and growth forms.
1705 · Treatise on the Ferns of America
Detailed botanical engraving of a fern with lizards at the base.
1705 · Treatise on the Ferns of America
An engraving of an elephant standing next to a tree in a landscape.
1706 · Voyagie van Capiteyn William Hawkins, door Oost-Indien, gedaan anno 1608 en vervolgens. : B...
Engraving of a tropical scene with palm trees and two figures, one of whom is an archer.
1706 · Voyagie van Capiteyn William Hawkins, door Oost-Indien, gedaan anno 1608 en vervolgens. : B...
Engraving of various animals in a landscape, representing the fauna of the New World.
1707 · Uytvoerige reys-togten door Pedrarias Davila, met vyftien schepen van zyn katholyke majesteit voor opper-...
Engraving depicting hunting and fishing in New England, with various birds and sea creatures.
1707 · Twee Scheeps-togten van Kapiteyn Johan Smith, beyde gedaan na Nieuw-Engeland. De eerste in het jaar 1614....
A detailed engraving depicting a variety of exotic animals from Asia and Africa, including elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, and various reptiles in a naturalistic landscape.
1710 · Les Indes Orientales et Occidentales, et autres lieuX : représentés en très-belles figur...
An engraving depicting the cultivation and harvesting of date palms, featuring workers, a grove of trees, and storage vessels.
1712 · Exotic Pleasures (Persia and Asia observations)
Detailed botanical engraving of the Kiri tree (Paulownia tomentosa), showing leaves, flowers, and buds.
1712 · Exotic Pleasures (Persia and Asia observations)
A collection of natural history specimens and mythical creatures, including a crocodile, armadillo, sawfish, and a winged dragon-like beast.
1714 · Recherche curieuse d'antiquités, venuës d'Italie, de la Grece, d'Egypte, & trouvées à Nimegue, a Sant...
A collection of seven engravings depicting various real and fantastical creatures, including a frog, sea monsters, and exotic fish.
1714 · Recherche curieuse d'antiquités, venuës d'Italie, de la Grece, d'Egypte, & trouvées à Nimegue, a Sant...
An allegorical engraving featuring Minerva seated with a spear and shield, accompanied by a lion, a stone tower, and botanical specimens, with a domed temple in the background.
1721 · Stahl, Georg Ernst: D. Georg. Ern. Stahlii, Consiliarii Et Archiatri Regii. Borussici Primarii, Fvndamenta Chymico-Pharmacevtica Generalia
Scientific plate illustrating various fungi species, labeled Ordo II and Ordo III.
1729 · New Genera of Plants
Allegorical engraving featuring two figures flanking a central floral crest with a motto banner.
1729 · New Genera of Plants
Engraving depicting various forms of the mandrake root, showing its legendary anthropomorphic qualities.
1733 · Superstitions anciennes et modernes
Engraving of mandrakes and ginseng, featuring anthropomorphic 'artificial' mandrake roots.
1733 · Superstitions anciennes et modernes
A plate featuring two religious medals at the top and six numbered botanical specimens below, all within a double-line border.
1733 · Superstitions anciennes et modernes
Hand-colored botanical engraving of Cliffortia foliis lanceolatis integerrimis (Femina), showing a flowering branch and detailed dissections of reproductive parts.
1737 · Carl Linnaeus — Hortus Cliffortianus (1737)
Botanical engraving of Anthospermum mas, showing a large branch and detailed dissections of the leaves and flowers.
1737 · Carl Linnaeus — Hortus Cliffortianus (1737)
Hand-colored botanical engraving of Lobelia from Hortus Cliffortianus, showing the full plant habit and floral dissections.
1737 · Carl Linnaeus — Hortus Cliffortianus (1737)
Botanical engraving of Dalea, featuring a central flowering stalk with pinnate leaves and detailed dissections of the flower parts.
1737 · Carl Linnaeus — Hortus Cliffortianus (1737)
Engraving of a chimpanzee standing upright and holding a bowl, labeled 'Chimpancee'.
1741 · Library of Magical Acts and Writings, Vol. III
Engraved vignette showing the harbor of Amboina with figures and ships, framed by decorative foliage.
1741 · The Ambonese Herbal, Vol. 2 (Herbarium Amboinense)
Engraved title vignette depicting a panoramic view of Amboina harbor, framed by ornate scrollwork and flanked by two seated figures.
1741 · The Ambonese Herbal (Herbarium Amboinense), Vol. 1
Hand-colored engraving of a black bird perched on a pink lady's slipper orchid.
1743 · The Natural History of Carolina Florida and Bahama Islands Vol. 2
Hand-colored engraving of a Northern Bobwhite (American Partridge) and an Atamasco Lily.
1743 · The Natural History of Carolina Florida and Bahama Islands Vol. 2
An engraving depicting an interior scene where workers are preparing manure beds for the incubation of domestic bird eggs. The scene includes four figures labeled Fig. 1 through Fig. 4, engaged in various tasks such as s
1749 · Art de faire éclorre et d'élever en toute saison des oiseaux domestiques de toutes especes, Tome premier