Natural History

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Exploring the Early Americas

The Jay I. Kislak Collection

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myLOC » Exhibitions » Exploring the Early Americas » Aftermath of the Encounter » Documenting New Knowledge » Natural History

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Von Humboldt’s Scientific Excursion to So...

Among the most beautiful and richly illustrated items in the Kislak Collection are books detailing the natural history of the New World. These volumes describe and illustrate the diverse flora and fauna of Mesoamerica and include indigenous names for the plants and animals. Books such as Historia naturae (1635) by Juan Eusebio Nieremberg (1595–1658) also provide extensive information on the customs and rites of native cultures.

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