European Garden Spider Anatomy: Hand-Colored Engraving from Bertuch, 1798

€ 150

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

Date: 1798
Sheet size: 25.7 × 19.7 cm (10.1 × 7.8 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-13292-52

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

Condition with vibrant hand-coloring, sharp engraving details, and intact edges. Slight age-toning and minimal foxing do not detract from its appeal. Perfect for display or collection.

About this sheet

This detailed hand-colored copperplate engraving from Friedrich Johann Bertuch's "Bilderbuch für Kinder" (1798) illustrates the European garden spider (Araneus diadematus). It features a black variety (Fig. 1), a red variety hanging from a silk thread (Figs. 2 and 3), a close-up of the head showing eyes and mandibles (Fig. 4), silk spinnerets with fibers (Fig. 5), and silk tubes (Fig. 6).

This engraving beautifully combines scientific accuracy and artistic craftsmanship, making it an essential piece for collectors and natural history enthusiasts. Bertuch's work is renowned for its 12-volume series illustrating various aspects of the natural world, science, and art in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.