Antique Cotton Botanical Print, Gossypium Herbaceum, c.1831

€ 780

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

Date: 1831
Mapmaker / artist: Jonathan Carl Zenker, Germany, 1831–1832
Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring
Sheet size: 27.1 × 22.7 cm (10.7 × 8.9 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14181-37

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

Moderate age-related toning with some light spotting, especially in the background.

About this sheet

Antique Cotton Botanical Print, Gossypium Herbaceum, c.1831
This clear and balanced botanical engraving depicts Gossypium Herbaceum, a principal cotton species used in textile production. The plant is shown with flowers, bolls, seeds, and structural details.

The plate originates from Zenker’s Merkantilische Waarenkunde and represents one of the most economically significant plants of the Industrial Age. Cotton was central to global manufacturing and colonial trade networks.

Original hand coloring is restrained and elegant, giving the plate a clean, almost modern aesthetic.

Condition report:
Moderate age-related toning with some light spotting, especially in the background.

Framing tips:
A neutral linen mat and a simple wood frame suit the understated strength of the image.