Antique Long & Cubeb Pepper Botanical Print, Piper Species, c.1831

€ 690

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-14181-9

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 light discoloration. No tears or losses.

About this sheet

Antique Long & Cubeb Pepper Botanical Print, Piper Species, c.1831
This botanical engraving presents a comparative study of lesser-known pepper species, including Piper longum and Piper cubeba. Unlike the more familiar black pepper, these varieties were valued for their medicinal properties and specialized culinary uses, making them important yet niche commodities in early trade.

Issued in Zenker’s Merkantilische Waarenkunde, the plate reflects the period’s growing interest in distinguishing closely related commercial plants. The composition is analytical in nature, emphasizing botanical structure rather than decorative flourish, and appeals particularly to collectors and scholars of spice history.

Original hand coloring is restrained and precise, supporting the scientific clarity of the illustration. This is a plate best appreciated for its intellectual and historical significance rather than overt ornament.

Condition report:
Moderate toning with light discoloration. No tears or losses.

Framing tips:
A neutral mat with a slightly wider margin reinforces the comparative character of the study. A darker frame adds visual weight.