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 detailed, hand-colored engraving of a Pithecia hirsuta (Monk Saki) perched on a branch, from Johann Baptist von Spix's 1823 study of Brazilian primates.
1823 · New Species of Brazilian Monkeys and Bats
A detailed, hand-colored engraving of a female Pithecia capillamentosa (White-faced Saki) from Johann Baptist von Spix's 1823 study of Brazilian primates.
1823 · New Species of Brazilian Monkeys and Bats
A hand-colored engraving of a Black-fronted Titi monkey (Callithrix nigrifrons) perched on a branch and holding a piece of fruit.
1823 · New Species of Brazilian Monkeys and Bats
An engraving of an ancient Egyptian hunting scene in a papyrus marsh, featuring a man, woman, and child in a boat surrounded by birds, fish, and hieroglyphs.
1852 · The one primeval language traced experimentally through ancient inscriptions in alphabetic characters of lost powers from the four continents
A symbolic emblem featuring a central landscape within a floral wreath, accompanied by crossed quills and a rosary.
1863 · Selecta Fungorum Carpologia, Vol 2
Illustration of the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary with travelers, reproduced from the 'Livre des Merveilles'.
1891 · Les Voyages en Asie (Travels)
Botanical plate of Agaricus muscarius (Fly Agaric) showing various growth stages.
n.d. · Les champignons de la France : histoire, description, culture, usages des espèces comestibles, vénéneuses, suspectes, employés dans les arts, l'industrie, l'économie domestique et la médecine
Botanical illustration of Agaricus vaginatus mushrooms
n.d. · Les champignons de la France : histoire, description, culture, usages des espèces comestibles, vénéneuses, suspectes, employés dans les arts, l'industrie, l'économie domestique et la médecine
A plate of six Norwegian marine animals, including whales and sharks, with identifying labels in Danish.
n.d. · Det Første Forsøg paa Norges Naturlige Historie (The Natural History of Norway)
Hand-colored woodcut of King Caspar observing a lamb and a lion hatching from ostrich eggs.
1476 · The New Marriage and the Passion of Jesus
Medallion at the base of a central border ornament depicting a white rabbit or hare in a green field.
1480 · Ordo breviarii secundum consuetudinem Romane curie
Woodcut depicting an eagle in flight observing a phoenix sitting on a pyre amidst rocky terrain.
1490 · Mirror of Wisdom
An ornate, tall vessel or fountain base supporting a small, stylized tree with flowers, decorated with classical motifs and a central mask.
1499 · Hypnerotomachia Poliphili
Miniature painting of a lion in a landscape
1500 · ʻAjāʼib al-makhlūqāt (MS Nn.3.74)
Woodcut depicting a variety of land animals including a lion, elephant, donkey, bear, and hedgehog.
1504 · Margarita philosophica
Hand-colored woodcut depicting a physician or gardener in a botanical garden with a tiered fountain and beehives.
1505 · The Book of Health: The Art of Distillation
Woodcut of a goat standing on its hind legs to eat from a tall plant.
1507 · Garden of Health
A woodcut showing a variety of animals and mythical creatures, including a griffin, lions, eagles, and a goat.
1509 · The Dialogue of Creatures
Botanical woodcut of Herba Paralysis (Cowslip), showing roots, leaves, and flowering umbel.
1532 · Living Images of Plants
Detailed botanical woodcut of Buglossa sylvestris (Wild Bugloss), showing the entire plant from root to flower.
1532 · Living Images of Plants
Botanical woodcut of a Sanicle plant (Sanicula europaea), showing its characteristic lobed leaves, flowering stalks, and detailed root system.
1532 · Living Images of Plants
Botanical woodcut of a flowering plant, likely a species of Bugle (Ajuga) or similar, showing detailed leaves and flower spikes.
1532 · Living Images of Plants
Hand-colored emblem of a barren tree with three golden fleur-de-lis
1540 · Paracelsus — Czech Prognostication for Ferdinand I, post-1536
Hand-colored woodcut depicting two varieties of horsetail (Equisetum), labeled 'Schaffthew' and 'Roßschwantz'.
1546 · Book of Herbs
Botanical woodcut of an oat plant with geese at its base
1546 · Book of Herbs
Botanical woodcut of a willow plant with a goat grazing on its leaves.
1552 · On the Names of Plants
Detailed woodcut of an owl, likely a tawny owl, perched and facing forward.
1554 · History of Animals, Book I: On Viviparous Quadrupeds
Detailed woodcut of a Hoopoe (Upupa epops) showing its distinctive crest and curved beak.
1555 · Historiae Animalium Liber III: De Avium Natura
A woodcut depicting a falconer seated at a table with several birds of prey.
1555 · History of the Northern Peoples
Woodcut of a large flat sea creature, possibly a ray or skate, with personified wind faces in the corners.
1555 · History of the Northern Peoples
Woodcut illustration of a rabid dog attacking two men in a landscape.
1563 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides on Medical Matter
Woodcut illustration of the 'Male Mandrake' (Mandragora Mas) showing its leaves, fruit, and anthropomorphic root.
1563 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides on Medical Matter
Woodcut illustration of the 'Female Mandrake' (Mandragora Foemina) with detailed leaves and a human-like root structure.
1563 · Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides on Medical Matter
Botanical woodcut illustrating the doctrine of signatures, showing plants alongside animal paws.
1588 · Phytognomonica
A woodcut illustration featuring several botanical specimens with their roots, leaves, and flowers, positioned above two detailed human eyes.
1588 · Phytognomonica
Botanical woodcut showing plants with roots resembling scorpions and crustaceans.
1588 · Phytognomonica
A hand-colored engraving depicting three types of exotic flora from the East Indies: Bamboo (Bambus), the Banyan tree (Arbore de Rays ofte Wortelboom), and the Durian tree (Durioens).
1596 · Itinerary: Voyage to the East or Portuguese Indies
A detailed woodcut illustration of a large owl perched on a horizontal branch.
1599 · Ornithology
Woodcut illustration of a Great Auk (Mergus maximus)
1605 · Ten Books of Exotic Things
A detailed woodcut of a wild boar in profile.
1621 · History of All Cloven-Hoofed Quadrupeds
A large, detailed woodcut of a monstrous creature with a toad-like body and a long, coiled snake tail.
1640 · History of Serpents and Dragons
A large woodcut of a winged Ethiopian dragon with a crested head and a coiled tail.
1640 · Serpentum et Draconum Historiae
Engraving of Melocactos (Melon cactus)
1640 · Hortus Eystettensis
Detailed botanical engraving of Helleborus niger and four Leucoium species.
1640 · Hortus Eystettensis
Large botanical engraving of a double peony flower with a bud and leaves.
1640 · Hortus Eystettensis
Woodcut illustration of a 'Taurus Mexicanus' (American Bison)
1651 · Treasury of Medical Matters of New Spain
The 'Magnes Aeolius' (Aeolian Magnet) depicted as a pufferfish suspended by a thread from a hand in the clouds, centered within a compass rose.
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
Woodcut of a 'monstrous' carp with a human-like face.
1661 · De Piscibus Libri V et De Cetis Liber Unus
A large copperplate engraving titled 'KANEELBOOM' showing the harvesting of cinnamon.
1665 · The Embassy of the Dutch East India Company to the Tartar Cham
Anatomical plate featuring seven detailed engravings of fish anatomy, specifically focusing on the head, mouth, and internal structures.
1666 · Anatomical Compendium (Syntagma Anatomicum) (1666)
A grid of various four-legged animals (quadrupeds) including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, a camel, an elephant, and deer, each numbered for educational reference.
1678 · Vorpforte der Schul-Unterweisung
Engraving of a two-legged winged dragon, identified as Draco Helveticus bipes et alatus.
1678 · The Subterranean World Volume Two
A scientific plate (Tab. 3) featuring four detailed engravings of tortoise shells, including top and bottom views of a 'Great Chequerd Tortoise-Shell', a 'Lesser from Virginia', and a 'Scaled Tortoise Shell', accompanied
1681 · Museum of the Royal Society
Detailed botanical illustration of a Moringa tree (Moringa oleifera) with compound leaves and white flowers.
1686 · Jan Moninckx; Maria Moninckx — Moninckx Atlas, vol. 2 (1686)
Large-scale microscopic engraving of an insect, likely a flea, showing detailed anatomical features such as hairs and leg segments.
1687 · Micrographia nova: sive nova & curiosa variorum minutorum corporum singularis cujusdam & noviter
Magnified view of an insect's anatomy, showing the abdomen and jointed, bristled legs.
1687 · Micrographia nova: sive nova & curiosa variorum minutorum corporum singularis cujusdam & noviter
Scientific engravings of an oak leaf with galls and cross-sections of the galls showing insect larvae.
1687 · Anatomy or the Interior of Things
An engraving depicting Thomas Cavendish's crew hunting sea lions on a coast, with a ship anchored in the background and indigenous people nearby.
1707 · Twee vermaarde scheeps-togten, van Thomas Candisch, Engels edelman, de eerste rond-om den geheelen aard-k...
A grid of four natural history engravings depicting Japanese aquatic creatures: two 'Minogame' (long-tailed turtles), a hermit crab, and a horseshoe crab, each with Japanese calligraphy and Romanized names.
1727 · The History of Japan, Vol. 1
Detailed botanical engraving of a coconut palm tree, showing its full form, fruit clusters, trunk sections, and a person climbing it.
1741 · The Ambonese Herbal (Herbarium Amboinense), Vol. 1