Jonstonus' Quadrupedibus (1657)
Joannes Jonstonus. Historiae naturalis de quadrupedibus. Amstelodami: Apud Joannem Jacobi fil. Schipper, 1657.
Although Joannes Jonstonus' (1603-1675) Natural History of the Quadrupeds was a popular book, going through many editions in Holland and Germany in the 17th century, it was filled with fanciful plagiarizations of the works of Gesner and Aldrovandi.
It did, however, contain superb copperplate engravings by Mathäus Merian (the father of the famous painter of insects, Maria Sibylla Merian), such as the one shown to the left of an elephant. The artist has skillfully captured the dexterity of the elephant's trunk as it takes a loaf of bread from the basket.
Another example of an elephant engraving by Mathäus Merian is presented on the page featuring commentary on the elephant by Edward Topsell.