Large Antique Botanical Print – White Orchid Cattleya Schroederæ Alba, c.1888

€ 252

Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)

Date: 1888
Mapmaker / artist: Joseph Mansell after original drawing, London, c.1888–1894
Technique: Hand-colored lithograph
Sheet size: 52.5 × 35 cm (20.7 × 13.8 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: PCT-60625

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

Very good condition. Light toning to edges and minimal scattered foxing in the outer margin. Colors vivid and unfaded. No tears or repairs. Blank verso.

About this sheet

White Cattleya Orchid Botanical Print – Schroederæ Alba, Reichenbachia c.1888

An exquisite hand-colored lithograph of Cattleya Schroederæ Alba, one of the most elegant and iconic white-flowered orchids, from the renowned Reichenbachia: Orchids Illustrated and Described (1888–1894). This large-format botanical print highlights the natural grandeur of the Cattleya genus, known as the "queen of orchids" for its showy, fragrant blooms and graceful foliage.

The artwork displays three full blossoms emerging from thick, sheathed pseudobulbs and surrounded by leathery green leaves. The flowers are a stunning white with ruffled petals and sepals, their lips adorned with a central orange-yellow throat, creating a subtle contrast that emphasizes the purity and delicacy of the surrounding white. The floral arrangement is depicted against a soft, neutral background that brings focus to the intricate detail and lifelike quality of the orchid.

The image was drawn from life and signed in the stone by one of the principal artists of the Reichenbachia project, and lithographed by Joseph Mansell in London. The publication, directed by Henry Frederick Conrad Sander and named in honor of orchidologist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, set the highest standards in 19th-century botanical art. Issued in limited editions, Reichenbachia is considered a pinnacle of orchid illustration, combining scientific accuracy with artistic excellence.

Cattleya Schroederæ Alba is a highly prized hybrid in orchid cultivation, known for its beauty and rarity. This print is a remarkable example of Victorian botanical aesthetics and would appeal to collectors, orchid enthusiasts, and those seeking timeless floral decor.

Condition report:
Very good condition. Light toning to edges and minimal scattered foxing in the outer margin. Colors vivid and unfaded. No tears or repairs. Blank verso.

Framing tips:
Best suited to a gold, natural wood, or soft silver frame. Float-mounting with an ivory or warm gray mat will enhance the orchid’s refined color palette.