Science and Art come together in this lavishly-illustrated (over 200 high-quality pictures), 240 pp book which explores the natural history art to be found in The Royal Society of Tasmania’s Rare Book Collection. The brief of the numerous scientific authors was to view these amazing early volumes and their exquisite illustrations and to consider how important they were to the understanding of their particular group of organisms in early times, and what influence they have had on the science today. The art authors were asked to bring to life the incredible men and women who produced the extraordinary art work that you will find reproduced in this volume. So often their talent and identity is overlooked, yet without them, we would have nothing but verbal description that conveys nothing of the real wonder of the organisms.
The Library at the End of the World: Natural Science and its Illustrators was published in late October 2014. The 1000 hardcover copies were numbered and signed by the editors.
The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.
On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Read more