SCARCE Original D'Orbigny Hand-Colored SEASHELLS Engraving: MOLLUSQUES PL. 3

Description: Rare 1849 Hand-Colored Steel-Plate Stipple-Engraving from: Charles D'Orbigny'sDictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle Mollusques. Pl. 31. 2. Cardium magnum 3. 4. Etheria plumbea5. 6. Tridacna squammosa 7. 8. Chama damaecornis An original antique, hand-colored Camelia botanical engraving, one of the classics from the Mollusques section of D'Orbigny's epic Natural History Atlas.The drawing, detail work in the stipple-engraving, the coloring 'A La poupee' (colored in the plate) & hand-finishing are remarkable.Generally one only finds these as reproductions, giclees & such anymore. I happen to have this scarce original antique copy in my collection.This is a true find. If you're looking for an original antique copy to make giclees from, or just to frame & stare at in awe on your wall, here's a very rare chance to acquire one.The Volumes: Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle (Dictionary of Natural History) was edited by the French naturalist Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny (1802-1857). Regarded as one of the best illustrated encyclopedias of natural history, the Atlas volumes featured exquisitely detailed and scientifically accurate illustrations that appeal to both the academic and artistic eye. Other topics in the series included mammals, birds, insects, fish, etc. published by Renard & Martinet of Paris. The superb, beautifully hand colored plates are from the leading French artists of the day such as Susemihl, Traviès, Oudart and Pretre. The order, genus & species is on each print in Latin & French.Every part of these prints was made by hand: Hand drawn & engraved on Copper which was hand-mined, smelted & rolled, printed onto handmade cotton rag paper, inked & colored with hand-ground pigments individually by hand, & they were usually hand sewn into handmade leather-bound books.Condition: Appears to be in excellent condition for a 175-year-old engraving. The hand-coloring appears to remain sharp & brilliant as the day it was painted. Typical character for a print this old. Trimmed tight on the left side, likely during the bookbinding process, otherwise a very clean print. Please peruse the detailed photos.These prints are very old & may have minor imperfections expected with age, such as some typical age-toning of the paper, oxidation of the old original watercolors, spots, text-offsetting, artifacts from having been bound into a book, etc. Please examine the photos & details carefully.Text Page(s): This one comes without original text page(s) as those were bound separately. I've added a scan of a sample cover page from one of the volumes to the listing photos for reference, it's not part of the listing.About these gorgeous creatures:Acrosterigma magnum, or the magnum cockle, is a species of bivalve mollusc in the family Cardiidae, the true cockles.Etheria is a genus of freshwater oysters in the Etheriidae family of mollusk bivalves, and a part of the Unionida order. The genus includes a single species, Etheria elliptica, that is found throughout Africa and Madagascar. Tridacna squamosa, known commonly as the fluted giant clam and scaly clam, is a species of bivalve in the family Cardiidae. Chama lazarus, common name the Lazarus jewel box, is a species of cemented saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusc in the family Chamidae, the jewel boxes. Size: 6" x 9-1/2" inches approximately.Shipping: Multiple prints combine into one USPS Flat-Rate envelope. If you'd like to combine & need more time to choose, please send a message & we'll do our best to oblige. If you're assessed multiple shipping for one combined package, we'll endeavor to refund any overage asap. Thanks for Visiting!

Price: 44 USD

Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-10-12T16:48:25.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10.4 USD