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1707-1725

SLOANE, HANS. Voyage to the islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica with the natural history of the herbs and trees, four-footed beasts, fishes, birds, insects, reptiles & c. of the last of those islands... Vol. I and II. (Vol. I: London: printed by B.M. for the author, 1707; Vol. II: London: printed for the author, 1725).

Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), physician and naturalist, was born in the town of Killeagh, County Down, Ireland. Keenly interested in natural history since his childhood, his vast lifetime collection of books, manuscripts, and specimens served as the nucleus of the British Museum. Sloane was a highly successful London practitioner, and in 1719 was elected president of the Royal College of Physicians, serving in this post for fifteen years. He was also appointed physician to Queen Anne and was knighted by King George I. In 1687, at the age of twenty-five, Sloane was invited to the Colony of Jamaica by the newly appointed governor, Christopher, Duke of Albermarle. Serving as the Duke's family physician, Sloane spent his spare time gathering plant specimens, as well as observing the people, climate, and trade of Jamaica. Spending just fifteen months in Jamaica, Sloane gathered an amazing number of plant specimens. Among these were over 800 or more species that were unknown in England. When he returned, he assembled his dried specimens and crayon drawings into a collection that served as the basis for this magnificent two-volume work.

One of the crayon drawings of a plant specimen from Sir Hans Sloane's lifetime collection of specimens, books, and manuscripts that served as the nucleus of the British Museum.