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Historical Scientific Engravings

A collection of 18th and 19th-century engravings showcasing tools and illustrations related to anatomy, spinning, gemstone work, and surveying equipment.

Muscles of the arm; the muscle figures; illustrations of muscle action. Engraving, 18th century.
Muscles of the arm; the muscle figures; illustrations of muscle action. Engraving, 18th century.
149 assets in this story
6145-29257678
Surgical instruments. Engraving by G. Georgi, 1656.
6145-29288484
Clocks: mechanism of a pocket watch. Coloured engraving by J. Pass, 1810.
6145-29941101
The nerve of the traveler in Bade
1848-54542769
Hunting horn, fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, plate 22 of the historical and music-theoretical literature "Syntagma Musicum", musicological writings of Michael Praetorius or Schultheiss
4128-18680590
Kaleidoscope, 19th century illustration
6145-30151578
Topographic, Geographic and Music Engraving, from Encyclopédie 1762-1777 France. Etching, with engraving, on cream laid paper . A. J. Defehrt
1746-19701368
Obstetrical forceps. From André Levret's Observations sur les causes et les accidens de plusieurs accouchemens laborieux, 1754
6145-48514956
Print, Tailleur d'Habits, Details, from Diderot's Encyclopaedia; Designed by J.R. Lucotte (French, 1750-84); Written by Denis Diderot (French, 1713-1784); Engraved by Robert Bénard; France; engraving on white paper; 35.1 x 22.3 cm (13 13/16 x 8 3/4 in.), irregular
4128-18680575
Egyptian musical instruments, 19th century illustration
4409-20992000
Medieval archers with crossbow and different types of arrows. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Verico from Giulio Ferrario's Ancient and Modern Costumes of all the Peoples of the World, Florence, Italy, 1844.
1746-28969732
Wheel barometer. From 'A treatise on the aneroid, a newly invented portable barometer' by Edward J. Dent, 1790-1853. Published in 1849.
6145-29286995
Surgery. Instruments for lithotomy, including Mr. Earle's stone breaker and Mr. A. Cooper's knife. Engraving by Wilson Lowry after John Farey.
6176-66081813
The primitive peoples, prehistoric cemeteries of Argentina. 1,4,5 Stone axes. 3 Arrowheads. 2 Small tools. 7.8 Musical instruments. 6,10,12 Drumsticks. 9.10 Mortars. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1897
6145-59575621
Fan, Mount of Events, A.J. Defehrt, After Goussier, 1751 - 1772 print Ten figures or steps explain how a fan is mounted. Planche IV from a series of four prints with accompanying text: Domentaillist, Contenant Quatre Plankches. From encyclopédie ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des art et métiers by Denis Diderot and Jean le around d'Alembert, Paris, 1751-1772. paper engraving fashion plates. fan (+ women's clothes)
1889-60411997
Boyle's first air pump. Robert Boyle, 1627 - 1691. Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor. From Selected Readings in the History of Physiology, published 1930.
6145-55951735
Coupe des housses lisses et froncées pour lustres, candélabres, pendules et grandoles.. Émile Voitelain et Ce. Design drawings, Drawings. 1859. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Art & Architecture Collection. Draperies, Upholstery
4409-149136
Anatomy of the human eye, showing eyeball, optic nerve, muscle, cornea, retina, sections through eye. Copperplate engraving by Milton from Abraham Rees' Cyclopedia or Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, London, 1820.
4409-48153136
Baglama or tanbur 1, sciehizdeh 2, kemancheh or rebab 3, setar 4, scienk 5,7, psalter 6, nefir 8, carhana 9, sciak-nefir or horn 10, sorna 11, musicar 12, dembal 13, dohol drum 14, kus kettledrum 15, naqqara 16, thabli-baz 17,18, tonbak 19, daf drum 20, sindi 21, rattle 22. Ancient Persian musical instruments. Strumenti di musica. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giovanni Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrarios Costumes Ancient and Modern of the Peoples of the World, Il Costume Antico e Moderno, Florence, 1847.
4197-63522691
Antique medical book, sketch and study anatomy, human body drawing or reference page with organ explanation. Latin language, journal and vintage diagram for kidney healthcare medicine treatment
6145-29286394
Surgical instruments for the extraction of cataracts. Engraving by W. Lowry after J. Farey jun., 1812.
4069-321
So-called treasure of King Priam, last King of Troy, described by Homer, engraving from Troy And Its Remains, 1875, by Heinrich Schliemann, 1822-90, controversial German archaeologist who excavated the site of ancient Troy
1746-28978952
Stages in the shaping of a metal pen-nib from the blank stamped out from a metal strip, perforating and bending - Boulogne. France 1903
4220-21857656
Apparatus intended to correct bow legs Date: 1827
6145-29268285
Fishing: two men fishing from a boat in a river (top), and plans and elevations of the boat and net (below) Engraving, c.1762, by Benard after Goussier.
6176-66082314
Traditional musical instruments from tribes of equatorial Africa. Journey to unexplored Africa, the mysterious continent by Henry Morton Stanley. Old 19th century engraved illustration, El Mundo Ilustrado 1880
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Ornamental fountain design, 1664. Artist: Georg Andreas Bockler
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Optics: optical phenomena. Coloured engraving by J. Emslie, 1850, after himself.
1899-20225083
Comet Observations.
4443-19583682
Cordonnier, pl. II from 'Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire Raisonné des Sciences, des Arts et des Métiers', Engraving on paper, France, 1771, Print, Print
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Hydraulics: fountains. Coloured engraving by J. Lodge.
6145-59267735
Design for a watch chain, Mathieu Lauweriks, 1909 drawing Design for a piece of jewelry. paper. ink. pencil pen watch. ornaments, jewels
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Chemistry: chemical apparatus made of glass, metal etc. Coloured engraving by J. Pass, 1801, after H. Lascelles.
4443-73144473
Atlas der Diatomaceen-Kunde, Leipzig, O.R. Reisland, 1874-1819, atlases, bacillariophyceae, A detailed illustration featuring an array of elongated and slender forms, likely representing various species of diatoms or similarly structured microorganisms. Each form is meticulously numbered and labeled, indicating a systematic classification. The image showcases a range of sizes and shapes, illustrating the diversity within the group. Some forms exhibit intricate markings or lines, highlighting their unique characteristics. This collection serves as a scientific reference, illustrating the complexity and variety found in microscopic life forms.
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"Factual caption: A photograph taken in April 1918 shows bombs and rockets manufactured by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Co. in Philadelphia, PA. One of the bombs depicted is the Clark bomb, which was designed based on French specifications. This bomb was utilized to illuminate the battlefield at night, with a rocket inside that produced light and hung from a long cord attached to a parachute. When the bomb was dropped, the propeller at the front would spin, triggering the fire mechanism and releasing the parachute. The rocket would float for approximately eight minutes."
4409-20923107
DIFERENTES TIPOS DE PIPA PARA FUMAR TABACO.
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Clocks: the mechanism of a chiming clock (top), and the notation of the chimes (below). Coloured engraving by J. Pass, 1809.
4220-21935648
Page showing the various stages of work involved in mining. Date: 1930
6145-29245570
Various stages in the formation of the fruit of different flowers. Coloured etching by F. Sansom, c. 1802, after S. Edwards.
4220-4993
Selection of ear trumpets (which once belonged to Beethoven)
1746-19632536
Various pumps for raising water. Triple pump, top right. Man-powered balance pump (bottom). From 'Encyclopaedia Londinensis', (London, 1816). Engraving.
1848-72905375
Scientific illustration with details, pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, school picture, authentic reproduction of a school mural, around 1909, based on an original by Gottlieb von Koch, exact date unknown, historical
4443-73146889
Matériaux pour la paléontologie suisse, ou, Recueil de monographies sur les fossiles du Jura et des Alpes, Genève, H. Georg, 1854-1873, Cretaceous, Echinodermata, Eocene, fossils, paleontology, Switzerland, Museum of Comparative Zoology, The illustration showcases a collection of fossilized specimens arranged systematically on a page. At the top, various shapes and forms resembling fragments of shells or skeletal structures are depicted, labeled with corresponding numbers for identification. Below these, several types of small, elongated artifacts are presented, possibly representing tools or other items used by prehistoric humans. Each object is meticulously detailed, showcasing textures and contours that hint at their geological and historical significance. The overall layout suggests a scientific study, emphasizing the variety and complexity of the fossils represented.
6145-29250994
Joints of the human body: annotated illustrations, with proportions marked. Pen and ink, probably copied from a printed book, 1830/1850.
4409-48146411
Cistrum, Greek percussion instrument, in emerald plasma. The four rods symbolize the elements, the oval shape the moon. Sistro in plasma di smeraldo. Copperplate engraving by Giovanni Battista Galestruzzi after Leonardo Agostini from Gemmae et Sculpturae Antiquae Depicti ab Leonardo Augustino Senesi, Abraham Blooteling, Amsterdam, 1685.
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Games for blind people. Old 19th century engraving from La Nature 1887
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Slave ship (hull in profile and deck plan) showing hundreds of slaves crammed into low decks. Handcoloured lithograph from Friedrich Wilhelm Goedsche's "Vollstaendige Völkergallerie in getreuen Abbildungen" (Complete Gallery of Peoples in True Pictures), Meissen, circa 1835-1840. Goedsche (1785-1863) was a German writer, bookseller and publisher in Meissen. Many of the illustrations were adapted from Bertuch's "Bilderbuch fur Kinder" and others.
6188-55566729
Geometry ITALY - CIRCA 1940: Vintage illustration of geometry, circa 1940 in Italy Copyright: xZoonar.com/ClaudioxDiviziax 1743834
6145-29295498
Galvanoscopic frog
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Amber sculpts of the stone age and metal objects, found at a later time, vintage engraved illustration. From the Universe and Humanity, 1910.