Elegant European Birds: 1805 Handcolored Engraving from Bertuch's Masterpiece
€ 90
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1805
Sheet size
23 × 19 cm (9.1 × 7.5 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14000-2
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Condition with some foxing, light creasing and age toning, typical of its era. Original hand-colored. Study the images carefully.
About this sheet
Handcolored 1805 Engraving of European Birds from Bertuch's "Bilderbuch für Kinder"
This stunning handcolored copperplate engraving from 1805 features six European bird species in remarkable detail, including the Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), and others. Carefully illustrated in Friedrich Johann Bertuch's renowned "Bilderbuch für Kinder" (Picture Book for Children), the engraving beautifully balances scientific accuracy with artistic craftsmanship.
Bertuch’s 12-volume encyclopedia, published between 1790 and 1830 in Weimar, was a groundbreaking effort to educate children through visually captivating illustrations covering natural history, science, and art. Each bird is depicted in its natural pose, showcasing intricate details of plumage and posture. These depictions reflect the Enlightenment's enthusiasm for sharing knowledge about the natural world.
The six birds depicted in this engraving are:
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) Female Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula, female) Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
This plate is ideal for collectors of ornithological art or 19th-century natural history prints. It offers not just an artistic representation of European avifauna but also a tangible link to the legacy of early scientific exploration and education.
