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Naturalis Historia, 1st Encyclopedia > 
Natural History is an encyclopedia written by Gaius Plinius Cecilius Secundus, known as Pliny the Elder. In its present form the natural History consists of thirty-seven books, the first book including a characteristic preface and tables of contents, as well as lists of authorities, which were originally prefixed to each of the books separately.
He apparently published the first ten books himself in AD 77, and was engaged on revising and enlarging the rest during the two remaining years of his life. The work was probably published with little, if any, revision by the author's nephew, who, when telling the story of a tame dolphin, and describing the floating islands of the Vadimonian Lake , thirty years later, has apparently forgotten that both are to be found in his uncle's work. He describes the Naturalis historia, as a Naturae historia, and characterizes it as a "work that is learned and full of matter, and as varied as nature herself."
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