This work contains a detailed description of the natural history cabinet created by the Danish scientist Ole Worm. The text is divided into four books, the first three dealing with minerals, the plant and animal kingdoms. The fourth details manufactured objects, for example archaeological and ethnographical items, coins and some original works of art. The work is not merely a catalogue, but a scholarly work with references to, and quotations from, other writers.

Entire book digitized, excluding contemporary vellum cover, of this first edition with plates including a double-page engraving of the museum (by G. Wingendorp), an engraved portrait of Worm (age 66; C. van Mander pinxit, G. Wingendorp sculp.) along with other large text woodcuts and copperplate engravings.