Antique Herbs and Mushrooms Botanical Prints, Natural History Set, 1852

€ 297

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

Date: 1852
Mapmaker / artist: Carl Gustav Calwer, Stuttgart, 1852
Technique: Hand-colored lithograph
Sheet size: 26.5 × 21 cm (10.4 × 8.3 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14178-74, -75, -76

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 toning with foxing and light staining consistent with age. Margins show light wear. Hand coloring remains well defined. Visible plate marks.

About this sheet

Antique Herbs and Mushrooms Botanical Prints, Natural History Set, 1852

Description
This exceptional three-plate set combines aromatic herbs and fungi, drawn from Landwirthschaftliche und technische Pflanzenkunde by Carl Gustav Calwer, published in Stuttgart in 1852. The plates illustrate a range of herbaceous plants alongside detailed mushroom studies, reflecting the period’s close connection between botany, medicine, and natural history.

The herb plates present upright, rhythmic plant forms, while the mushroom plates focus on structure, texture, and variation, from caps and stems to cross-sections. This contrast creates a visually engaging set that appeals strongly to collectors.

These plates work beautifully in libraries, studies, or curated gallery walls focused on science and nature.

Condition report
Moderate toning with foxing and light staining consistent with age. Margins show light wear. Hand coloring remains well defined. Visible plate marks.

Framing tips
Frame individually and hang as a trio. Charcoal, dark olive, or antique gold frames work particularly well.