Views of Africa
€ 690
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good. Vibrant colors, minimal fading. Paper shows light toning and minor foxing in margins. Edges sharp; no tears, no folds. Slight handling marks, not affecting image quality.
An 18th-century hand-colored copper engraving by Johann Michael Seligmann, based on an illustration by George Edwards.
The print is from Seligmann’s *Sammlung verschiedener ausländischer und seltener Vögel* (Collection of Various Foreign and Rare Birds), published in Nuremberg between 1770 and 1773.
The title, "Der blaue Dickschnabel" (The Blue Grosbeak), identifies the bird depicted.
The engraving features:
1. The Blue Grosbeak (*Coccothraustes caeruleus, Angolensis*) - A beautifully colored bird with striking blue plumage, perched on a branch laden with cherries and foliage.
2. Butterfly - A small, delicately colored butterfly hovering nearby, adding an element of naturalism and interest to the scene.
The Latin and French titles below translate as "The Blue Grosbeak from Angola," highlighting its exotic origin. Seligmann's use of copperplate engraving, hand-colored with fine detail, illustrates both the bird’s vibrant coloration and the lush botanical setting, combining scientific observation with artistic elegance.
