John Frederick Miller and George Shaw | Cimelia Physica... London, 1796

John Frederick Miller

Cimelia Physica. Figures of the rare and curious quadrupeds, birds, &c.... London: T. Bensley, 1796

FIRST EDITION, folio (524 x 358 mm.), 60 hand-coloured engraved plates, contemporary green half morocco over marbled boards, edges gilt, upper hinge cracked, transfer from some plates onto facing leaves, scattered spotting, creases to Plate LX and endpapers, extremities rubbed 

The plates first appeared in 1776-1792 under the title Various subjects of natural history, but this is virtually unknown. The text by Shaw is unique to this 1796 issue. John Frederick Miller, the son of the noted botanical artist John Miller, was employed by Sir Joseph Banks and thus had access to the numerous zoological specimens which Banks constantly received. He painted and etched these subjects, and probably coloured the plates himself as well. The Cimelia is primarily known as an ornithological work, but it also contains a number of important plant portraits, most of which are the first illustrations of the species depicted.

LITERATURE:

Fine Bird Books, p. 94; McGill/Wood, p. 465; Nissen IVB 638; Stafleu TL2 6033; Zimmer, p. 585

PROVENANCE:

Bookplate of Robert Brooke; bookplate of Albert Julian Pell, Wilburton Manor