Nature's Palette A Colour Reference System From The Natural World

This chromatic catalogue of the natural world pairs individual colour swatches with examples from the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms to create a comprehensive colour reference system.

Marking the 200th anniversary of the publication of Syme's expanded edition of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours (1821), this volume takes Syme's field guide of 110 standard colours and - for the first time - fully illustrates it with 19th depictions of his referenced species. Expert text explains the uses and development of colour standards in relation to zoology, botany, minerology and anatomy, while specimens from contemporary collector's cabinets (birds, butterflies, eggs, flowers and minerals) are matched to each colour swatch. Syme's guide attempted to establish a universal colour reference system to help identify, classify and represent species from the natural world: this publication completes his endeavour.