Zebra Shark, Twospot Astyanax, Ghost Pipefish, Grooved Razorfish, Electric Eel, Largescale Foureye by Albertus Seba

Albertus Seba, the Dutch pharmacist, zoologist, and collector, made significant contributions to the world of natural history through his lavishly illustrated works. His most notable publication is the “Thesaurus”, a four-volume treasury of animal specimens. The full title of this opulent work is “Locupletissimi Rerum Naturalium Thesauri Accurata Descriptio et Iconibus Artificiosissimus Expressio per Universam Physices Historiam”, which translates to “A Careful Description and Exceedingly Artistic Expression in Pictures of the Exceedingly Rich Treasury of Nature Throughout the Entire History of Natural Science.” Traditionally shortened to the “Rerum Naturalium Thesaurus”, or simply “Seba’s Thesaurus”, this masterpiece is also known as “A Cabinet of Natural Curiosities” – a nod to the early modern cabinets of curiosities. The first two volumes were published during Seba’s lifetime, while the last two were released posthumously in 1759 and 1765. Today, an original 446-plate volume resides in the collection of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek in The Hague, Netherlands1. Recently, a complete example of the Thesaurus fetched an impressive $460,000 at auction. In addition to this monumental work, Seba’s legacy endures through his influence on Carl Linnaeus and the establishment of the Russian Academy of Sciences, thanks to the expansion of Peter the Great’s imperial cabinet of curiosities facilitated by Seba’s collections.