Botany · 19th century
€ 940
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Moderate age-related toning and light spotting. Image remains strong.
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.
Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring
Maker: Jonathan Carl Zenker, Germany, 1831–1832
