About this sheet
Antique Alpine Botanical Chromolithographs – Set of 4, Germany 1897
A beautifully curated set of four original antique botanical chromolithographs published in Germany in 1897 as part of the celebrated Atlas der Alpenflora (Atlas of Alpine Flora). Issued by the German and Austrian Alpine Association, these finely printed plates illustrate four fascinating alpine plant species with remarkable scientific precision and subtle naturalistic coloring.
Produced under the scientific editorship of Dr. Palla of the University of Graz, the illustrations were based on original botanical studies by the renowned Austrian botanical artist Anton Hartinger and reproduced using the advanced photolithographic process developed by Nenke & Ostermaier of Dresden. The publication remains one of the finest late nineteenth-century botanical atlases devoted to the flora of the European Alps.
The set includes the following species:
Pedicularis foliosa (Leafy Lousewort)
Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort)
Pinguicula alpina (Alpine Butterwort)
Orobanche flava (Yellow Broomrape)
Together these four plates present an intriguing collection of specialized alpine plants. The set combines the distinctive yellow-flowered Pedicularis foliosa with two carnivorous butterwort species (Pinguicula), known for their insect-trapping leaves, and the remarkable parasitic Orobanche flava, a chlorophyll-free broomrape that grows on the roots of other plants. Their unusual biology makes this an especially interesting group for collectors of botanical art and natural history.
Each print retains its original German title together with habitat and flowering information, providing valuable historical and scientific context. The elegant compositions, soft chromolithographic coloring, and botanical accuracy make these prints equally suitable as scientific illustrations and decorative works of art.
Displayed together as a horizontal row of four, a square arrangement, or two pairs, the prints create a refined botanical gallery wall. Wide ivory museum mats combined with slim walnut, bronze, or black frames beautifully complement their subtle colors, making them ideal for libraries, studies, country houses, mountain homes, or contemporary interiors.
This is a set of four original antique prints. Any framed or interior images are for inspiration only and do not reflect the actual scale of the prints. The prints are sold unframed.
Good overall condition with age-related toning to the paper. Minor foxing, light spotting, occasional edge wear, and traces of former binding along one margin, consistent with their origin from a bound nineteenth-century volume. Colors remain fresh and well preserved. Please study the images carefully.
