Egyptian Mongoose

Artist or Author: Johan Christian Daniel von Schreber

Work: Die Saugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen

Date of Publication: 1775-1778

Style: Originally Hand-colored Engraving

Paper Size: ~ 7 3/4" by 9 3/4"

Condition: The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work:

This originally hand-colored engraving is from Johan Christian Daniel von Schreber's Die Saugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen or Mammals Illustrated from Nature, with Descriptions It was published in Erlangen by Wolfgang Walther between 1775 and 1778. The engravings are on laid paper.

"The most comprehensive—and for a long time, the undisputed—standard work on mammalogy." (Nissen, p. 154) Schreber began to publish this work in 1774 using Linnaeus's classification system. Schreber employed George Edwards, De Seve, and other noted artists to create images for the work, often from detailed descriptions rather than specimens. Due to the sometimes mis-guided depictions the work is often referred to as Schreber's "Fantastic Beasts."

Johan Christian Daniel von Schreber (1739-1810) was a German physician and naturalist. He studied botany with the celebrated taxonomist, Carl Linnaeus. He served as a professor of medicine at the University of Erlangen and the Director of the Erlanger Botanical Gardens & Natural History Museum.