Catesby Logger-head Turtle Hand-Colored Plate

Hand-colored lithographic plate, image size 13.75 inches wide by 10 inches long, page size approximately 21 inches wide by 13 inches long. From: Catesby, M., The Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Islands, 1736-1771, Volume 2, plate number 40. Image depicts a green turtle ("Testudo marina Cauanna", now Caretta caretta Linnaeus). Plate was previously framed without accompanying text. This hand-colored plate came from either the first or second edition. There were no changes to the plates between the first and second editions, so without the text it is impossible to determine the edition of the plates. Catesby lists the logger-head turtle as one of the four distinct kinds of Sea-Tortoise. He noted that logger-head is the most aggressive and numerous of the sea turtles. Cateby's travels for The Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Islands were extensive, and this work is considered one of the finest natural history studies of colonial America. In addition to writing this famous work, Catesby painted and etched the plates.