Mammals · 19th century
€ 240
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
General age-related toning. Minor wear and soiling. Blank verso. Please study image carefully.
An original hand-coloured engraving of "The Hairy Armadillo or Fourth Tatou of d'Azara." This is a depiction of the species known scientifically as Chaetophractus villosus, more commonly called the big hairy armadillo or large hairy armadillo.
The reference to "d'Azara" likely pertains to Félix de Azara, a Spanish naturalist and engineer who was known for his descriptions of South American fauna during the 18th century. His work was crucial in documenting wildlife in that region, and several species were named by or for him in recognition of his contributions to natural history.
This print, too, was published by G.B. Whittaker, which stands for George Byrom Whittaker, a London-based publisher active in the early 19th century. The print is marked as being from around 1825, situating it within the same general time frame as the previous fish engraving you shared.
As with the fish engraving, this print was also hand-colored, a common practice of the time to bring life and realism to printed images in the era before color printing was commonplace. The prints would have been part of a larger collection of natural history illustrations, intended to disseminate knowledge of various species to those interested in the sciences and natural history.
The level of detail and artistry in these prints reflects both the scientific and aesthetic values of the period, capturing the physical characteristics of the species while also creating a visually appealing image. Collectors and enthusiasts of natural history often seek such prints for their historical and artistic value.
