Schinz, Heinrich Rudolf (1777-1861), Naturgeschichte Naturhistorische Abbildungen der Saeugethiere (Natural History of Mammals)

Heinrich Rudolf Schinz was educated in Zurich and studied medicine in Würzburg and Jena, returning to Zurich in 1798 as a physician. In 1804 he became a teacher at the medical institute, and after the establishment of the university in Zurich in 1833, he became a professor of natural history. He served as secretary, board member and curator of the natural history society of Zurich, energetically raising funds and building the collection, as well as writing many important zoological works. Schinz produced a series of popular illustrated books on natural history between 1824 and 1852 on humans, mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. This publication on mammals, called Naturgeschichte Naturhistorische Abbildungen der Saeugethiere” (Natural History of Mammals), was published in Zurich in 1824 and was lithographed by Karl Brodtmann, one of the most prominent lithographers of the time.

Prints from this publication are finely detailed, and feature excellent original hand coloring.