Amphibians and crabs, c 1690.

Engraving after Japanese prints, including a water lizard (fig 2), turtles (fig 3,4,6), a tortoise (fig 5 ), and a hermit crab (fig 7). From 'The History of Japan' (1727) by Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716). Kaempfer was a German physician working at the Dutch trading post in Japan from 1690-1692. He assembled a large collection which was to become part of the British Museum. On his return to Europe he wrote 'The History of Japan', which records many aspects of Japan in the Genroku period (1688- 1704).