Products
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Europe – Rigobert Bonne, Atlas Encyclopédique (Paris, 1787–1788) -
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes - Ensayos (Trials) - Plate 60 - c1900 -
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes - Los Caprichos - Plate 50 -
Francisco de Goya, Se Repulen, Plate 51, Los Caprichos, c1900 -
Gangetic Dolphin (Narrow-Snouted Indian Dolphin) - Shaw & Nodder (RPN) c 1804 -
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec — Histoires naturelles: Le Chien (1899) -
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec — Histoires naturelles: Le Taureau (1899) -
Imperii Romani Distracta Pars Orientalis, by R. Bonne, c.1770 -
Ireland Map by Herman Moll - 1723 -
Jacques Louis Engramelle, Apollo Butterfly (Mountain Apollo), c1779 to 1792 -
Jacques Louis Engramelle, Skipper and Copper Butterflies (Lycaenidae & Hesperiidae), c1779 to 1792 (Copy) -
Latitude Sud. Hémisphère Occidental. – Rigobert Bonne, Atlas Encyclopédique (Paris, 1787–1788) -
Malimbic Bee-Eater - Shaw & Nodder - 1799 -
Matthioli’s Marine Zoology Set 10-Page Suite (Lyon, 1572) -
Mercator–Hondius Map of Ireland (Irlandiae Regnum), Dutch Edition, c.1630 -
MOSCOVIA by Ruscelli — V Rare Map of Russia - c1561 -
Mr Trottman en Irlande (No. 19) - Le Charivari (Paris), ca. 1845 -
Mr Trottman en Irlande (No. 20) — Le Charivari, Paris c. 1845 -
Pair of early science Magnetism Engravings by Athanasius Kircher, c1641 -
Pro Crisibus Morborum et Aspectibus Planetarum, Johann Zahn, Nuremberg 1696 -
Purple-Throated Flycatcher - Shaw & Nodder 1792 -
Red Shouldered Tanager - Shaw & Nodder - 1793 -
Tabula Asiae X – India Intra Gangem, from Ruscelli after Ptolemy, Venice 1574 -
Tsuguharu Foujita - Cat Drinking (from A Book of Cats), 1929/1930 - Signed
Old scientific, medical and astronomy prints form one of the most captivating categories of historic illustration. These works document the centuries when scholars, natural philosophers and early scientists were beginning to observe the world with new precision. Collectors seek them for their artistry, their historical weight and their ability to connect us to the earliest stages of scientific thought. At Lumenrare, this category encompasses astronomy diagrams, medical anatomy plates, natural philosophy engravings and technical images of early experiments, many created during the Renaissance and early modern period.
Scientific illustration served as the visual language of early knowledge. Long before photography existed, writers and researchers relied on engravers to record celestial patterns, anatomical discoveries, magnetic instruments, chemical reactions and the diversity of the natural world. Every plate is a primary historical artefact, produced at the time when ideas were still evolving. This gives old scientific prints a unique appeal, particularly to collectors who appreciate early scholarship and the origins of modern science.
Astronomy prints are among the most visually striking examples. Works like the Zahn astronomy diagram Pro Crisibus Morborum illustrate how celestial movements were once linked to timekeeping, seasonal cycles and even medical theory. Diagrams such as these combine observation, geometry and philosophy, creating richly detailed images that bring early cosmology to life. Their ability to blend science, symbolism and visual design makes them ideal for collectors and for interior settings seeking artworks with intellectual character.
From the Renaissance through the Enlightenment, scientific illustration evolved from symbolic and sometimes speculative imagery to meticulously detailed diagrams. Early natural philosophers, anatomists and astronomers relied on artists and engravers to document their findings long before photography existed. This means that every old scientific print is a primary historical artefact, a visual record created at the moment ideas were new, debated or incomplete. Whether the subject is celestial mechanics, human anatomy, chemical experimentation or magnetic force, these antique prints offer a genuine window into the origins of modern science.
Early scientific and technical illustrations by polymaths such as Athanasius Kircher also form a significant part of this area. Kircher’s magnetism engravings, for example, show early experiments with magnetic force, signal transmission and mechanical devices designed to make invisible forces visible. These prints are admired for their precision and ingenuity, revealing how seventeenth century thinkers approached natural mysteries with a mix of observation, creativity and engineering. Pieces like this expand the category beyond astronomy and medicine, showcasing the breadth of early scientific imagination.
Old medical and natural philosophy prints add further depth. Aldrovandi’s plates of birds, human deformities, unusual natural phenomena and early classifications of animals represent a milestone in the study of the natural world. These engravings reflect the Renaissance ambition to catalogue all aspects of life, combining artistic skill with emerging scientific method. Such prints appeal not only to collectors but also to designers and researchers who value the aesthetic and historical significance of early natural history.
As a category, scientific, medical and astronomy prints offer exceptional variety. Some focus on anatomical structure, others on celestial mechanics or magnetic force, while others depict rare biological specimens or early scientific instruments. Together they show how knowledge developed across disciplines and how artists played a crucial role in recording new discoveries. Their visual richness and historical authenticity make them ideal for framing, collecting or gifting to anyone with an interest in science, medicine or the history of ideas.
Lumenrare curates a growing selection of early scientific prints, including astronomy diagrams, Kircher magnetism plates, Aldrovandi natural history pages and other rare examples of early scholarship. Many more are being prepared for release, ensuring that collectors can continue to find historically important and visually compelling pieces that celebrate the beginnings of scientific inquiry.