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.
An interior scene showing two men working with specialized incubator equipment for hatching eggs, labeled Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
1749 · Art de faire éclorre et d'élever en toute saison des oiseaux domestiques de toutes especes, Tome premier
An engraving depicting a rural scene where several figures are tending to domestic birds in a courtyard. One person is working with a large wire cage, while others are scattered throughout the garden area near a house.
1749 · Art de faire éclorre et d'élever en toute saison des oiseaux domestiques de toutes especes, Tome second
An engraving depicting a rural scene with a poultry coop labeled 'a' and 'b', a group of people seated at a table preparing food, and several chickens in the foreground. Signed 'J. Ingram sc.'
1749 · Art de faire éclorre et d'élever en toute saison des oiseaux domestiques de toutes especes, Tome second
An ornate cartouche featuring a rooster standing in a landscape, flanked by two cherubs, with decorative scrollwork above and below.
1750 · The Art of Hatching and Bringing up Domestick Fowls of All Kinds, at Any Time of the Year
A hand-colored engraving depicting a large reddish-brown land crab positioned beneath a plant with yellow fruits. The crab has one significantly larger pincer, while its smaller pincer holds one of the three oval yellow
1750 · Mark Catesby — Piscium, serpentum, insectorum (pt. 1) (1750)
A hand-colored botanical and zoological engraving. On the left is an Acacia plant with bipinnate leaves, a large white globular flower head, and two brown seed pods hanging below. On the right is a Frutex (shrub) with la
1750 · Mark Catesby — Piscium, serpentum, insectorum (pt. 1) (1750)
A hand-colored botanical and zoological engraving featuring a Canada Lily (Lilium canadense) with a snake (Anguis capite viperino) entwined around its stalk. The lily displays four flowers: two in bud and two fully open
1750 · Mark Catesby — Piscium, serpentum, insectorum (pt. 1) (1750)
A botanical and zoological illustration featuring a branch of a plant with green leaves, a cross-section of an Anona fruit with a blue-tailed lizard (Lacertus cauda caerulea) crawling on it, and a separate white flower.
1750 · Mark Catesby — Piscium, serpentum, insectorum (pt. 1) (1750)
Woodcut headpiece featuring two putti with medical and botanical symbols.
1751 · Historical and Critical Library of Rare Physical and Medical Books
A collection of eight distinct fish species, hand-colored, from Louis Renard's 'Poissons, ecrevisses et crabes'.
1754 · Louis Renard — Poissons, ecrevisses et crabes (1754)
Hand-colored engraving of five distinct marine species, including the Peti-Cornute, Carcasse, Douwing-Dueq, Ican Swangi Touwa, and Calu-calu.
1754 · Louis Renard — Poissons, ecrevisses et crabes (1754)
Hand-colored engraving of a large, vertically oriented fish (De Groote Tafel-visch) with distinct black and white stripes and a long, trailing fin.
1754 · Louis Renard — Poissons, ecrevisses et crabes (1754)
An ornate headpiece engraving featuring three putti (cherubs) amidst elaborate acanthus leaf scrolls and floral garlands. The central putto holds a small frog, while the one on the right holds a butterfly net. An owl is
1758 · August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof — Historia naturalis ranarum nostratium (1758)
Hand-colored copperplate engraving of the European tree frog (Hyla arborea) in various poses: leaping (dorsal and ventral views), vocalizing with an inflated sac, resting on an oak leaf, and clinging to the inside of a g
1758 · August Johann Rösel von Rosenhof — Historia naturalis ranarum nostratium (1758)
Engraving of a marmot in a rocky landscape, labeled 'Marmott.'
1765 · History of the Christians Commonly Called Waldensians
A natural history plate featuring twelve detailed watercolor-style illustrations of various sea shells, primarily of the Strombidae family (conchs), arranged artistically with handwritten German labels.
1770 · Georg Wolfgang Knorr; Johann Ernst Immanuel Walch — Schnecken und Muscheln (1770)
Hand-colored engraving of hummingbirds, a nest, and fruit on a branch.
1771 · Georg Wolfgang Knorr — Deliciae naturae selectae (1771)
Detailed botanical illustration of a cedar branch with three large cones and several catkins.
1771 · Christoph Jakob Trew — Uitgezochte planten (1771)
Hand-colored botanical engraving of a pineapple (Ananas) plant, showing the developing fruit, crown, and surrounding leaves.
1771 · Christoph Jakob Trew — Uitgezochte planten (1771)
Hand-colored botanical engraving of a banana plant (Musa) showing leaves, fruit, and flower.
1771 · Christoph Jakob Trew — Uitgezochte planten (1771)
Hand-colored botanical engraving of a banana flower (Musa) showing the spadix, spathes, and florets in various stages of development.
1771 · Christoph Jakob Trew — Uitgezochte planten (1771)
Hand-colored engraving of a Griffon Vulture perched on a rock, accompanied by a small tree with a squirrel and a bird.
1775 · François Bouchard — Recueil de cent-trente-trois oiseaux des plus belles especes (1775)
Hand-colored engraving of two nightjars (Caprimulgus), one in flight and one perched on a branch, both with open beaks.
1775 · François Bouchard — Recueil de cent-trente-trois oiseaux des plus belles especes (1775)
A hand-colored engraving of two cockatoos perched on a branch. The bird on the left is blue with a red crest, and the bird on the right is white with a yellow crest. A sprig of red berries stands between them, and a land
1775 · François Bouchard — Recueil de cent-trente-trois oiseaux des plus belles especes (1775)
Hand-colored engraving of four bird species perched on a branch.
1775 · François Bouchard — Recueil de cent-trente-trois oiseaux des plus belles especes (1775)
Botanical engraving of three mushrooms at different growth stages, likely Amanita muscaria.
1788 · An History of Fungusses, growing about Halifax (Vols 1-2)
Bookplate for the Library of the New York Botanical Garden featuring an allegorical emblem.
1788 · An History of Fungusses, growing about Halifax (Vols 1-2)
Botanical engraving of the mushroom species Peziza cerea (La Pézize couleur de cire).
1791 · Histoire des Champignons de la France, Vol 2
Hand-colored engraving plate featuring two figures: a large amphibian larva (tadpole) and an adult frog with aquatic plants.
1792 · Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte
Hand-colored engraving of a sea turtle and its skeletal structure.
1792 · Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte
Hand-colored engraving of a crocodile on a riverbank with a pyramid and palm tree in the background.
1792 · Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte
A detailed, hand-colored engraving of an iguana, shown in profile within a naturalistic landscape.
1792 · Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte
Hand-colored engraving of a crocodile in a landscape and a detailed view of its open jaws.
1794 · Unterhaltungen aus der Naturgeschichte / 3 Die Amphibien
A hand-colored scientific plate featuring six numbered figures of slime molds (Myxomycetes) growing on decaying wood.
1797 · Nova Genera Plantarum
Scientific illustration of Agaricus tener (Conocybe tenera) showing various growth stages and a cross-section.
1797 · Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms
Hand-colored engraving of Marasmius oreades (Fairy Ring Champignon) showing multiple specimens and a cross-section.
1797 · Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms
A detailed color engraving of a Sunda flying lemur (Galeopithecus rufus) clinging to a branch, showing its gliding membrane.
1800 · Jean Baptiste Audebert — Histoire naturelle des singes et des makis (1800)
Bookplate for the Library of the New York Botanical Garden featuring an allegorical emblem.
1800 · Illustrations of Fungi which Grow in Bavaria and the Palatinate around Ratisbon
A detailed color engraving of an African Hoopoe (La Huppe d'Afrique) perched on a branch, from Plate 2 of Audebert's natural history series.
1802 · Jean Baptiste Audebert — Histoire naturelle des colibris (1802)
Scientific illustration of two mushroom species, Agaricus uniformis and Agaricus dulcamarus, including whole specimens and cross-sections.
1803 · Illustrated Icons of Rare Fungi Species
Bookplate of the Library of the New York Botanical Garden
1803 · Illustrated Icons of Rare Fungi Species
Dynamic sketches of various birds on the right page, including roosters, pheasants, and crows in motion.
1814 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 1
A collection of bird studies on the left page, including ducks, a crane, and other avian species in various poses.
1814 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 1
A collection of fish and cephalopods, including an eel, a pufferfish, a ray, and a squid.
1814 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 1
A collection of marine life including turtles, fish, an octopus, and various crustaceans and mollusks.
1814 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 1
A collection of diverse bird species, including a crane, a bird of paradise, and smaller birds in various poses.
1815 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 3
A collection of various birds, including long-tailed pheasants and smaller songbirds, depicted among pine branches.
1815 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 3
A collection of various chrysanthemum flower varieties.
1815 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 2
Botanical sketches of various plants including magnolia and lotus.
1815 · Hokusai Manga (北斎漫画), Vol. 2
Bookplate for the Library of the New York Botanical Garden featuring a central crest, figures, and botanical motifs.
1820 · South African plants
Botanical plate illustrating Agaricus vaccinus mushrooms in various stages and cross-sections.
1848 · History of the Fungi of the Kingdom of Naples
Botanical plate of Agaricus melleus showing a cluster of mushrooms and anatomical sections.
1848 · History of the Fungi of the Kingdom of Naples
Detailed botanical illustration of a cluster of mushrooms showing caps and gills.
1848 · History of the Fungi of the Kingdom of Naples
Botanical engraving of Agaricus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) showing a cluster growing from a piece of wood and a cross-section detail.
1848 · History of the Fungi of the Kingdom of Naples
Scientific illustration of two clusters of mushrooms, identified as Hypophyllum fasciculare (sulfur tuft).
1855 · Iconography of the Mushrooms of Paulet
A botanical plate (Plate CXXII) featuring three distinct clusters of mushrooms: Hypophyllum cyprinum, Hypophyllum saponarium, and Hypophyllum tintinnabulum, with hand-written taxonomic annotations.
1855 · Iconography of the Mushrooms of Paulet
Scientific plate depicting various mushroom species from the Hydrophores family.
1855 · Iconography of the Mushrooms of Paulet
Engraving of a tree fern with two Maori figures at its base.
1855 · Polynesian Mythology
An engraving depicting New Zealand flora, including a nikau palm and tree ferns, with a small figure in the background.
1855 · Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History
Engraving of a tree fern with two Maori figures at its base.
1855 · Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History