Antique Botanical Fern Lithographs by E.J. Lowe – Set of 6, Published in 1856

€ 420

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

Date: 1856
Mapmaker / artist: Edward Joseph Lowe, London, 1856
Technique: Hand-colored lithographs
Sheet size: 25 × 15.5 cm (9.8 × 6.1 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14242-51 to BG-14242-56

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

Good overall condition with light age toning, occasional minor spotting, and small handling wear consistent with age. Several sheets show minor edge wear and small marginal imperfections. Colors remain fresh and attractive.

About this sheet

Antique Fern Lithograph Set by Edward Joseph Lowe, 1856 – Set of 6

A beautifully composed set of six original hand-colored botanical lithographs depicting exotic fern and polypodium species, produced by the celebrated British botanist Edward Joseph Lowe and published in London in 1856. These elegant mid-19th century studies originate from Lowe’s renowned work on ferns and exotic plant life, a publication highly regarded for both its scientific precision and decorative appeal.

The suite includes finely detailed representations titled Polypodium Paradiseæ, Polypodium Trichodes, Polypodium Verrucosum, Polypodium Decurrens, Polypodium Aureum, and Polypodium Sporadocarpum. Each specimen is rendered with remarkable clarity and subtle hand-coloring, emphasizing the intricate vein structures, fronds, and spore patterns that made Victorian fern studies so admired during the height of the “Pteridomania” craze in Britain.

Edward Joseph Lowe was one of the foremost Victorian naturalists specializing in ferns and horticulture. His botanical works combined scientific accuracy with artistic refinement, making them highly desirable today among collectors of natural history, botanical art, and decorative antique prints. The clean compositions and soft green tones give the series a timeless, modern aesthetic that works exceptionally well in both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Presented together, the six lithographs create a striking gallery wall arrangement, especially suitable for libraries, conservatories, garden rooms, boutique hotels, or refined modern interiors. The elegant vertical format and restrained palette make the set highly versatile for interior designers and collectors alike.

The prints are original antique lithographs, not reproductions. The pieces are sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.

Framing tips: Displays exceptionally well in dark walnut, ebonized, or light natural oak frames paired with wide ivory or oatmeal-toned mats. The set can be hung as a symmetrical grid for a refined botanical installation or arranged vertically in a narrow hallway or stairwell.