Mark Catesby's Natural History: An Introduction

Mark Catesby's Natural History: An Introduction is a delightful picture book. It contains a collection of beautiful images of etchings by early eighteenth century naturalist and explorer Mark Catesby from his The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands which was first published in 1731 (a century before John James Audubon's Birds of America) and which was described by a knowledgeable contemporary as "the most magnificent Work I know of, since the Art of Printing has been discover'd." It was the first fully illustrated natural history of North America.

During his travels in North America, Catesby had to endure encounters with hurricanes, disease, rattlesnakes, poisonous trees, and an Indian ambush. It was also during this period that he made some notable observations. He is, for example, credited with the first known written comments in English about the effects of habitat destruction on the survival of a species.

Mark Catesby's Natural History: An Introduction provides a window, not only into the flora and fauna of the early eighteenth century, but into the fascinating mind of an observer who meticulously recorded what he saw long before the advent and advantages of a modern-day camera. 50 carefully arranged examples of Catesby's illustrations (which he personally etched and colored) are paired with relevant extracts from the text of The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, as well as appropriate commentary.

Examples of the illustrations in Mark Catesby's Natural History: An Introduction include the very first colored illustrations of the now-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the Carolina Parakeet and the Passenger Pigeon. It also includes the first known and still existing pen and ink drawing by Catesby depicting the American Lotus. Notable are the Bald Eagle as well as the Bobolink, which led Catesby to develop the very first scientifically credible theory of bird migration.

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Sylvia Bacon has always had a strong interest in the arts, especially photography. Numerous regional magazines and newspapers have published her work. She has been featured as "Artist of the Quarter" several times at the community center on Kiawah Island and her photography continues to be displayed in local exhibits, including juried art shows. In addition to also serving as the artistic director for the Catesby Trust, she is a founder and recent past president of the Kiawah Island Photography Club. Sylvia has volunteered in numerous community and educational endeavors and served on several boards. She majored in Business Administration at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Dr. Charles Nelson is a native of Northern Ireland. He graduated in botany (1st class honors) from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1971. After completing his doctoral research at the Australian National University, Canberra, he was appointed horticultural taxonomist in the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin. His numerous publications include several beautifully illustrated, award-winning books about the history of Irish botany and gardening. Now a freelance author and editor living in Norfolk, England, Charles was Honorary Editor of Archives of natural history from 1999 until 2012 and was awarded the Founders' Medal of the Society for the History of Natural History in 2013. In February 2015 he was awarded The Royal Horticultural Society's Veitch Memorial Medal for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture. For his research on the history of Ireland's gardens and for raising the profile of Irish plantsmen, plantswomen, plants and gardens, in 2016 he was one of three recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland's gold Medal of Honour.

David Elliott retired from a 37 year career with The Procter & Gamble Company as Director of International Trade in 1994. He has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and as an Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is Founder, Chairman and now Honorary Trustee of the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy. Born in England, he was educated at Dartington Hall School in Devonshire and Trinity College in Connecticut.