These remarkable engravings of fish were executed by Merian for the fifth book of Jan Jonston's Historiae Naturalis, the volume covering fish and whales. Jonston's impressive volume - part of his larger 6-volume zoological encyclopedia - describes more than 500 fish and sea creatures, with 47 pages of copperplate engravings. Tab. XXXIX features 8 specimen, among them a wahoo, batfish, pufferfish, and a couple varieties of shark. Tab. IX features 9 different specimen, including sunfish and a variety of stingrays.

References:

Condition: A

Fine impression with attractive color. There are minor spots, mostly outside engraved images, and Tab. XXXIX has a few small wormholes in the left blank margin.