Elegant 1805 Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving of Bulbous Plants from Bertuch

€ 160

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

Date: 1805
Sheet size: 23 × 19 cm (9.1 × 7.5 in)
Reference: BG-14000-18

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

Minor foxing and light toning along the edges; the vibrant hand-coloring remains rich and beautifully preserved. Please review the images for further condition details.

About this sheet

This detailed hand-colored botanical engraving is taken from Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s Porte-Feuille des Enfants (Children's Portfolio), published in 1805. It features two finely illustrated plants with intricate depictions of their leaves, flowers, and underground bulb structures, emphasizing the scientific and artistic precision typical of the period.

The engraving depicts:
- Fig. 1: A plant resembling the Arum family, characterized by its large, textured leaves and distinctive spathe and spadix structure. The additional illustrations of the berry and bulb (marked B and C) provide further botanical detail.
- Fig. 2: A blooming Colchicum or Meadow Saffron, noted for its vibrant pink flower, elongated leaves, and bulbous base, often used to depict the autumn-flowering beauty of this species.

This plate exemplifies Bertuch’s commitment to blending education with aesthetic appeal, offering a valuable resource for understanding early botanical studies. It is ideal for collectors of antique botanical prints, garden historians, or those who appreciate Enlightenment-era natural history.