Rare Victorian Tropical Fern Lithograph Collection by E.J. Lowe, 1856
€ 420
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1856
Mapmaker / artist
Edward Joseph Lowe, London, 1856
Technique
Hand-colored lithographs
Sheet size
25 × 15.5 cm (9.8 × 6.1 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14242-63 to BG-14242-68
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
Good overall condition with light age toning, occasional minor spotting, and small handling wear consistent with age. Several sheets show minor edge wear and small marginal imperfections. Colors remain fresh and attractive.
About this sheet
Rare Victorian Tropical Fern Lithograph Collection by E.J. Lowe, 1856
An elegant collection of six original hand-colored botanical lithographs depicting rare tropical fern species, published in London by the distinguished Victorian botanist Edward Joseph Lowe in 1856. These refined studies originate from Lowe’s celebrated fern publications, highly regarded during the 19th century for their remarkable combination of scientific accuracy and decorative beauty.
The suite includes Polypodium Meniscifolium (Crescent Fern), Polypodium Decumanum (Giant Fern), Polypodium Pennigerum (Feather Fern), Polypodium Lepidopodum (Scaled Fern), Polypodium Harpeodes (Sword Fern), and Polypodium Proliferum (Trailing Fern). The prints display an extraordinary range of tropical fern structures, from elegant feathered fronds to dramatic elongated leaf forms, all rendered with subtle hand-coloring and crisp lithographic detail.
Edward Joseph Lowe was among the foremost British naturalists and horticultural authors of the Victorian era. His publications on ferns became particularly influential during the height of “Pteridomania,” the Victorian obsession with collecting and cultivating exotic fern species. Today, Lowe’s botanical plates are prized both for their scientific significance and their timeless decorative quality.
The restrained palette of soft greens against warm cream paper gives these lithographs a remarkably modern appearance, making them highly suitable for contemporary interiors while retaining their authentic 19th-century character. Displayed together, the six prints create a sophisticated botanical wall arrangement ideal for libraries, conservatories, garden rooms, boutique hotels, or refined modern interiors inspired by organic forms and natural textures.
The prints are original antique lithographs, not reproductions. The pieces are sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale.
Framing tips: Displays exceptionally well in dark walnut, museum black, or light natural oak frames paired with wide ivory or oatmeal-toned mats. Particularly striking when arranged in symmetrical grids or long vertical botanical installations.
