Art and history
Roseate Spoonbill illustration from John James Audubon's Birds of America
Learn about the history and development of natural science and discover arresting artworks from the Museum’s unrivalled natural history art collection.
Find out more about our art and history books below.
-
A Guide to the Official Archives of the Natural History Museum, London
This book provides a fascinating introduction to the archives deposited up until 1975 including scientific research, curation, exhibition production, education, publishing, building maintenance and internal management.
-
Alfred Waterhouse and the Natural History Museum
Mark Girouard explores the history of the design and building of one of London's most outstanding pieces of architecture - the Natural History Museum at South Kensington.
-
Arthur Harry Church
This stunning book uses previously unpublished material from the Library of the Natural History Museum to reveal the fascinating story of Church's life and work.
-
Art of Nature
Featuring works by many of the greatest natural history artists, this is an astonishing visual record of the exploration of parts of the natural world that had never previously been documented.
-
Birds
Birds: The Art of Ornithology is an outstanding selection of images from the famous archive of the Natural History Museum, including exquisitely crafted works from some of the most famous natural history artists ever published.
-
Chinese art and the Reeves Collection
Chinese art and the Reeves Collection is a selection of some of the finest examples of Chinese natural history drawings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many of which have never been published before.
-
Close-up
See animals, plants and crystals in a whole new light in this stunning book, full of amazing images created by scanning electron microscope (SEM).
-
Darwin Diary 2009
This timely week-to-view diary is published to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth. Every week there is a specially selected full-page illustration as well as entries reflecting the important dates or landmarks from Darwin’s life.
-
Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists
This work provides a comprehensive reference source of British and Irish botanists and horticulturalists over the past four centuries. The book also includes plant collectors, flower painters and for the first time garden designers.
-
Early American Herbaria and Related Drawings from the British Museum (Natural History)
This collection of five American herbaria is reproduced on microfiche and includes works and specimens produced and collected by some of the greatest American naturalists.
-
Exposing Nature
This book is for all photographers, amateur or professional, who would like to learn more about how to capture images of wildlife and the environment.
-
Extinction
A highly readable introduction to the causes of extinction, the different types of extinction and how relevant it is to the world today.
-
Footsteps in the Forest
The British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace set out for the Amazon in 1848 to collect natural history specimens. During his time there, he spent almost two years travelling up the Rio Negro, a region few Europeans had explored.
-
Images from Nature
This book provides a rare glimpse at unexhibited artwork treasures held in the collections of the Natural History Museum.
-
Manuscripts and Drawings in the Ornithology and Rothschild Libraries of the Natural History Museum at Tring
A unique collection of published and unpublished books, papers, drawings, watercolours and photographs from the Library of the Natural History Museum at Tring.
-
Museum Through a Lens
Visit the Natural History Museum – 100 years ago. Featuring stunning black-and-white photographs from the Museum's archives, this book offers a real flavour of life at one of London's oldest and most famous visitor attractions.
-
Natural History Museum Diary 2010
This week-to-view diary features remarkable images from past Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitions.
-
Nature's Connections
Nature's Connections gives an absorbing account of the development of natural history that will enrich everyone's understanding and enjoyment of the subject.
-
Plant Taxonomic Literature Microfiche Collection
This unique collection includes 4,679 important, and often rare, reference works in plant taxonomy, available by phytogeographic regions.
-
Potted Histories
Through botanical paintings and insightful essays, Potted Histories examines the fascinating history of plants and flowers. Over 20 plant families are profiled, including cacti, daffodils, iris, magnolias, poppies, roses, tulips and water lilies.
-
Race to the End
A beautifully told, impeccably researched and stunningly illustrated account of the epic race to the South Pole, featuring images that have never been published before.
-
Sarah Stone
This lavishly illustrated book reveals the intriguing tale of eighteenth-century discoveries from the Americas, Australia and Africa through the work of the naturalist painter Sarah Stone.
-
Scott's Last Expedition
Scott's Last Expedition tells the story of Robert Scott's historic and momentous expedition to the South Pole, the characters who were a part of it and their incredible feats of endurance.
-
The Art and Science of William Bartram
The Art and Science of William Bartram is a fascinating insight into the life, travels, and drawings of one of America’s most important natural historians who inspired a whole generation of young scientists and field naturalists.
-
The Art of Audubon
A special edition boxed set featuring some of the most brilliant bird paintings of all time from John James Audubon's nineteenth century masterpiece, The Birds of America.
-
The Art of India
Beautiful images of Indian natural history from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries.
-
The Art of the First Fleet
Features remarkable images from the historic First Fleet expedition, including rare drawings of the local indigenous population and some species that are now extinct or very rare.
-
The Birds of America
A complete edition of Audubon’s classic work, Birds of America, one of the best known natural history books ever produced.
-
The Birds of America eBook
An eBook version of Audubon’s nineteenth-century masterpiece, created by photographing a rare, original copy using the latest digital technology.
-
The British Museum Book of Cats
This beautifully illustrated book looks at the different roles cats have played in human life and also describes the various modern pedigree breeds – from short-haired tabby to long-haired Persian – which have evolved from the original wild cat.
-
The Gilded Canopy
How can a major art collection be on full display to the public, yet never be noticed? The answer is that it is on the ceiling.
-
The Great Extinctions
An in-depth guide to species extinctions and their many causes and impacts, by Museum expert Norman MacLeod.
-
The Letters of Sir Joseph Banks
This selection is made from the surviving 6,000 letters which Banks wrote, and will introduce many readers to a deeply impressive figure, who is rapidly being recognized as one of the great men of his age.
-
Treasures of the Natural History Museum
Treasures of the Natural History Museum is a stunning celebration of the best of the Museum’s unrivalled collections, with intriguing stories and sumptuous photographs throughout.
-
Troubled Waters
This book explores the fates of whales and dolphins and how they became intertwined with human history. The story begins over 1000 years ago when hunters first took up harpoons and went to sea in search of the rich rewards of meat, oil and whalebone.
-
Voyages of Discovery (New paperback edition)
Voyages of Discovery is a mesmerising visual record of ten of the world’s most significant natural history expeditions.
-
Voyages of Discovery
Voyages of Discovery is a mesmerising visual record of ten of the most significant natural history expeditions.
-
Walter Rothschild
This compelling biography reveals the extraordinary life of Walter Rothschild – the best known zoologist of his day and one of Britain’s great eccentrics.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 20
This is the latest memorable collection of images from the prestigious annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition featuring all winning and highly commended photographs from the 2010 competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 21
Presenting the very best wildlife images of 2011, Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 21 is the latest memorable collection of photographs from this hugely popular series.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 22
This powerful collection of photographs comprises all the winning images in the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Desk Diary 2011
The Museum’s 2011 week-to-view diary features stunning photographs of the natural world from past years of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Desk Diary 2012
The Museum’s 2012 week-to-view diary features stunning photographs of the natural world from past years of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Desk Diary 2013
The Museum’s 2013 week-to-view diary features striking photographs of the natural world from past years of the world-famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Pocket Diary 2011
The Museum’s 2011 week-to-view pocket diary features stunning photographs of the natural world from past years of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Pocket Diary 2012
The Museum’s 2012 week-to-view pocket diary features stunning photographs of the natural world from past years of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Pocket Diary 2013
The Museum’s 2013 week-to-view pocket diary features striking photographs of the natural world from past years of the world-famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
-
Wild Planet
Wild Planet is a unique collection of arresting images from past years of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition – the international showcase for the very best photography featuring natural subjects.
Buy art and history books online
Visit the online shop to find all our art and history books. Discover the history of natural science and natural history artworks from our unrivalled collections.
You can also buy other books, DVDs and lots of gifts inspired by the natural world.
New Chinese art book
Enjoy beautiful natural history art from the Museum’s own collections, in our new book Chinese art and the Reeves Collection.
The book brings together some of the finest examples of Chinese natural history drawings, many of which have never before been published. It accompanies a temporary display in the Museum’s unique new Images of Nature gallery.
Voyages of Discovery book
View astonishing images of the natural world from 3 centuries of global exploration in our Voyages of Discovery book.
Follow in the footsteps of Darwin, Cook, Sloane and other explorers for a fascinating account of human achievement and natural wonder.
