Treasures of the Natural World

Treasures of the Natural World catalogue accompanies an exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. It is a collection of some of the most fascinating and rare treasures from the Natural History Museum, London, enriched by the addition of First Peoples' narratives. This is an important step in acknowledging the complex history of some of the objects and respecting the deep relationship First Peoples have with the natural world.

Objects gathered from around the world over hundreds of years, Treasures of the Natural World catalogue includes these most wondrous objects of astounding beauty and abundance of life on Earth. It is accompanied by stories of meaning and resonance from diverse peoples around the world, connecting us with the landscape and helping to foster a love of, and curiosity about, the world around us.

Charles Darwin's pet juvenile giant tortoise; Alfred Russel Wallace's 83,200 beetles collected in Southeast Asia; and Sir Joseph Banks's shells collected during his HMS Endeavour exhibition, as well as the exquisite illustrations of small sea creatures drawn by artists who accompanied Banks, are just a few of the hundreds of objects in these pages.

This outstanding collection of treasures is presented in an exquisitely designed book and printed to the highest standards. It is a unique and must-have catalogue.