Period

18th Century

Featured Items

Engraved, hand colored illustration. Labels in English read [top] "The Leguana or Iguana Lizard of Guiana, [bottom] "The Alligator or Cayman of Surinam."

Narrative, of a five years' expedition,

John Gabriel Stedman
1796
Detail of a hand colored, engraved map of Boston, Massachusetts shows details such as "Boston Harbor," "Mill Pond," and "Charles's Wharf." Pink, green, and blue colors help differentiate geographical features.

A plan of Boston, and its environs,...

Richard Williams
1776
Detail of title page shows red and black printed text reading "Oronoko, traduit de l'anglois, de Madame Behn."

Oronoko

Aphra Behn
1745
Detail of a printed map shows text in Spanish reading "La Puna" and other labels over landmarks.

Carta de la Provincia de Quito y sus Adjacentes

Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville
1750
Detail of a printed book shows a full-page colored illustration of a plant with insects on it. On the opposite page, text in Latin is visible.

Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium

Maria Sibylla Merian
1719
Detail of a printed book shows title page with manuscript notations at the top of the page.

A summary history of New-England

Hannah Adams
1799
Detail of a printed book shows a full-page illustration of a man smoking while seated and another man throwing water on him. Text in English on the opposite page.

Little truths better than great fables

William Darton
1794
Detail of an engraved, hand colored map shows naval warfare, labels over "York River" and "York Town," and red and yellow details.

To his Excellency Gen Washington, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States of America. This Plan of the investment of York and Gloucester has been surveyed…

Sebastian Blauman
1782

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See Also

Black History

North America