The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Leonard Baltner ( - )

A fisherman of Strasbourg and amateur naturalist, from whom Francis Willughby acquired a book on the fish, fowl, and water-insects of the Rhine, with drawings commissioned by Baltner and commentary by the same. Relevant locations: Lived at or near Strasbourg, Alsace
 Relationships: Leonard Baltner was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Francis Willughby (22 Nov 1635-03 Jul 1672)

 Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - The ornithology of Francis Willughby ... : in three books: wherein all the birds hitherto known ... are accurately described: the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVIII copper plates: translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work. To which are added, three considerable discourses, I. Of the art of fowling: with a description of several nets in two large copper plates. II. Of the ordering of singing birds. III. Of falconry. By John Ray.
 References in Documents:
Excerpts from Ornithology (1876) related to Sir Thomas Browne's and the Tradescants' collections Now because elegant and accurate Figures do much illustrate and facilitate the understanding of Descriptions, in order to the Engraving such Figures for this Work, Mr. Willughby made a Collection of as many Pictures drawn in colours by the life as he could procure. First, He purchased of one Leonard Baltner, a Fisherman of Strasburgh, a Volume containing the Pictures of all the Water-fowl frequenting the Rhene near that City, as also all the Fish and Water-Insects found there, drawn with great curiosity and exactness by an excellent hand. The which Fowl, Fishes, and Insects the said Baltner had himself taken, described, and at his own proper costs and charges caused to be drawn. Which curiosity is much to be admired and commended in a Person of his Condition and Education. For my part, I must needs acknowledge that I have received much light and information from the Work of this poor man, and have been thereby inabled to clear many difficulties, and rectifie some mistakes in Gesner.