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Albertus Seba (1665 - 1736).
The Dutch (Frisian) pharmacist, zoologist and collector.

His "Cabinet of Curiosities" is one of the 18th century's greatest natural history achievements and remains one of the most prized natural history books of all time. Though it was common for men of his profession to collect natural specimens for research purposes, Albertus Seba had a passion that led him far beyond the call of duty. His amazing, unprecedented collection of animals, plants and insects from around the world gained international fame during his lifetime. In 1731, after decades of collecting, Seba commissioned illustrations of each and every specimen and arranged the publication of a four-volume catalog detailing his entire collection-from strange and exotic plants to snakes, frogs, crocodiles, shellfish, corals, insects, butterflies as well as fantastic beasts such as a hydra and dragon.

Seba's scenic illustrations which often mixed plants and animals in a single plate, were unusual even for the time. Many of the stranger and more peculiar creatures from Seba's collection... were as curious to those in his day as they are to us now.

- Taschen