A Study in Wings: Hand-Colored Lepidoptera of the Mid-19th Century

A collage of two original antique prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849. Description: This exquisite collage presents a selection of marine invertebrates, or zoophytes, from the celebrated "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle". These detailed illustrations depict the intricate beauty and diversity of coral-like organisms, showcasing the scientific and artistic achievements of the 19th century. The delicate hand-coloring highlights the natural elegance of these sea creatures, making the prints both a scientific document and a piece of art. The species depicted in the prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849, are as follows: **First Print:** 1. **Veretillum cynomorium** - Commonly known as the "sea pen," this species resembles a quill pen, hence the name. It's a type of soft coral in the order Pennatulacea. 2. **Actinia equina** - This is the common sea anemone, often found on rocky shores. 2.2 **Actinia equina (contracted)** - The same species, shown in a contracted state, which sea anemones can do when disturbed or when they are conserving moisture during low tide. **Second Print:** 1. **Flustra foliacea** - Also known as the "hornwrack," a type of bryozoan, which is a colonial organism...

These prints from "Les Plantes à Feuillage Coloré" Tome Second, published in Paris in 1880 with J. Rothschild as the editor, are fine examples of botanical illustration from the 19th...

The collage of the three prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849 showcases a variety of mollusc species. Description: This collage unites a ...

An antique hand-colored engraving. This particular illustration focuses on various moth and butterfly species, showcasing their wing patterns and body shapes in vibrant colors and with a high level of detail. The different specimens are numbered and named at the bottom, likely corresponding to their scientific names, which are partially legible and written in French. These include various types of moths and butterflies with distinct markings, such as eye-like spots on their wings, which are often used in nature as a form of mimicry or to ward off predators. The artistic style is consistent with scientific illustrations of the 19th century, aimed at providing an accurate representation of the insects for study and reference. The paper shows signs of aging, indicating the historical value of the print. This type of illustration would have been a vital educational tool at the time, combining scientific interest with an appreciation for the beauty of these creatures. The illustrator has captured both the structural and aesthetic qualities of the insects, which would have been important for both scientific taxonomy and for those with a general interest in natural history. The image appears to be a caption section from an antique hand-colored engraving, listing the names of various moth and butterfly species. The names are in French and are likely to correspond to the illustrations of the specimens on the main engraving. Here's the list of the species with a description based on the names provided: 1. **SÉSIE freloniforme**: This is likely a species of clearwing moth, which mimics the appearance of a hornet or wasp (hence "freloniforme", resembling a hornet). Clearwing moths are known for their transparent wings and mimicry for defense against predators. 2. **PROCRIS du Statice**: This could refer to a species of moth or butterfly associated with sea-lavender plants...

The butterflies depicted in the plates are special, both historically in the context of British lepidopterology and scientifically in terms of their morphology and behavior. 1. **Ar...

An original handcolored antique print featuring a series of illustrations of moths. Each moth is meticulously detailed, showcasing a variety of wing patterns and colors. The visual s...

19th century pair of framed Italian hand colored engravings One engraving depicts a scene from Florence, Italy The other depicts a sc...

A fine portrait miniature of a man with long tousled hair and blue high-collared frock coat. The image is encased by parcel-gilt and black lacquered glass with a thick giltwood shado...

Fascinating set of six 19th century steel engraved etchings or prints of marine biology species. Five of the six prints were engraved by William Lizars London, England with signature...

This is a hand coloured framed engraving of a study of Kingfisher birds all in the manner of Audubon Birds of America and dating to the Mid 19th Century. The study shows four Kingfi...

Pair of 19th century German botanical color lithographs in gilt wood frames with beautiful marbleized mats. Each with various plants and trees, includin...

A rare extra-large print, printed on engraving paper with an antique star press and watercolored by hand representing antique Stemma of "Porta dell'Antica Università dei Lanaioli", f...