Kunstformen der Natur Original wrappers in pictorial case - 1899

A beautiful copy of Ernst Haeckel's influential book on natural history that married art and science. Set of the first five (5) parts only. With 50 beautiful chromolithographed plates in the original printed wrappers and pictorial box. The 50 fine plates, some printed in colour, chromolithographed by Adolf Giltsch after sketches by Ernst Haeckel. "First edition of this famous and marvelous work which had a considerable influence on decorative design in the Jugendstil and Art Nouveau period during the beginning of the 20th century and depicts fantastic, real forms and structures found in animal and plant life." Many artists of the era, such as French glass designers Emile Galle and Rene Lalique, kept a copy of Haeckel's illustrations at home. French architect Rene Binet incorporated forms of Radiolarians in his work on the Porte Monumentale at the 1900 Paris Exposition. Dutch architect Henrick Petrus Berlage designed a chandelier based on Discomedusae jellyfish. German photographer Karl Blossfeld also explicitly referenced Haeckel in his work. Most of the plates are chromolithographs or lithographs. Others are photographic plates, halftone plates or combinations of different techniques, making it a very special publication in the history of printing. Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) was a German biologist, naturalist, philosopher, physician, professor, marine biologist, and artist who discovered, described and named thousands of new species. Adolf Giltsch (1852-1911) was a master lithographer of Jena who collaborated with Haeckel on System Medusen (1879) and Kunstformen (1899). Slight bumping to corners and spine of pictorial box, faint spotting to interior of box, all edges red, white silk ribbon to remove parts. Wrappers, text and plates in near fine condition, with superb chromolithographed and tinted lithographic plates, some with overlays.