One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1690
Sheet size
43 × 29 cm (16.9 × 11.4 in)
Condition
Fair
Reference
BG-13747-51, -53, -55
Condition
Strong, well-coloured impressions with even age toning. Light scattered spotting and handling marks; occasional marginal smudges; faint tide line at lower margin on some sheets; tiny edge nicks and short tears confined to blank margins.
Set of three late-17th/early-18th-century botanical copper engravings with period hand-colour, attributed to Augustus Quirinus Rivinus and his Ordo plantarum series produced at Leipzig in the 1690s (very likely the 1699 “flore irregulari pentapetalo” volume). Each sheet is printed within a neat double-ruled border and titled in a contemporary hand. The first plate shows two clovers, captioned “Trifolium” and “fl. albo,” with a tiny number “11.” at the upper right; the heads and trefoils are delicately shaded and a single flower detail is added at left. The second plate bears the headings “Gula” and “degener,” presenting two closely related yellow-flowering forms shown side-by-side—Rivinus often used such pairings to illustrate variation within an order. The third sheet depicts “Lotus tetragonolobos” (the square-pod bird’s-foot; note the long, angular pod and narrow leaves), with a small number “19” at the upper right. On all three, the transparent hand-colour allows the fine burin hatching to remain legible, and true plate impressions are visible around the image fields. The laid paper shows a fragmentary two-letter countermark on the outer edge, consistent with Dutch paper widely used by Leipzig printers of the period. As a trio these sheets exemplify the papilionaceous, irregular five-petalled blossoms that underpin Rivinus’s taxonomy and make an elegant, coherent display when kept together.
Sold here as three loose prints, unframed and unmatted. Any frames or mounts shown in visuals are for illustration only; the price covers the prints only.
Condition report: Strong, well-coloured impressions with even age toning. Light scattered spotting and small handling marks; occasional marginal smudges; faint tide line at lower margin on some sheets; tiny edge nicks and short tears confined to blank margins. Small manuscript numbers at upper right on two plates. Image fields clean and fresh. Plate marks clearly visible. Blank versos.
Framing tips: Mount in wide ivory or soft-cream mats; a very thin olive or warm-grey inner line echoes the foliage. Ebonized or dark-walnut frames give crisp contrast; a narrow gilt slip adds a restrained classical accent. Hang as a horizontal trio with consistent sight windows and generous spacing. Use UV-filter glazing.
Technique: Copper engraving with period hand-colour on laid paper (plate impressions present; sheets show partial two-letter countermarks typical of Dutch paper) Maker: Attributed to Augustus Quirinus Rivinus, Ordo plantarum, Leipzig, 1690s (likely 1699)
