Antique Tobacco Botanical Print, Nicotiana Tabacum, c.1831

€ 940

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-14181-39

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 and light spotting. Image remains strong.

About this sheet

Antique Tobacco Botanical Print, Nicotiana Tabacum, c.1831
This elegant botanical engraving depicts Nicotiana Tabacum, the tobacco plant, with flowering stems, leaves, and analytical details. Tobacco was one of the most influential cash crops in global trade, deeply intertwined with colonial economies and social history.

The plate comes from Zenker’s Merkantilische Waarenkunde and balances scientific clarity with visual grace. The soft pink flowers add delicacy to an otherwise powerful commercial subject.

Original hand coloring is subtle and refined, giving the plate excellent decorative appeal.

Condition report:
Moderate age-related toning and light spotting. Image remains strong.

Framing tips:
A pale ivory mat with a dark wood or black frame creates a refined contrast.