Catesby Green Sea 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 38. 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.  Image depicts a green turtle ("Testudo marina viridis", now Chelonia mydas Linnaeus) with turtlegrass ("Alga marina", now Thalassia testudinum). Catesby lists the green turtle as one of the four distinct kinds of Sea-Tortoise. He also makes note that they are good to eat. 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 is painted and etched the plates.