About this sheet
Original antique hand-colored copper engraving depicting a fascinating selection of exotic crabs, particularly Calappa or box crabs, published in Friedrich Justin Bertuch’s celebrated “Bilderbuch für Kinder” in Weimar in the early 19th century.
The plate is headed “Insekten LXXVII / Insecta LXXVII / Insectes LXXVII” and is devoted to “Verschiedene Arten Calappen und Krabben” – Various Species of Calappas and Crabs.
Although classified by Bertuch under the historical heading “Insects,” the animals shown are of course crustaceans according to modern zoological classification. Such broad classifications were common in natural-history publications of the period.
The plate illustrates several remarkable crab forms, including:
Calappa / Box Crab
Several of the beautifully patterned animals belong to the genus Calappa, commonly known as box crabs, shame-faced crabs or bashful crabs.
These unusual marine crabs are immediately recognizable by their broad, rounded shells and greatly enlarged flattened claws. When folded tightly against the front of the body, the claws partly conceal the crab’s face, giving rise to the charming English names “shame-faced crab” and “bashful crab.”
Bertuch’s original accompanying contents identify the species represented on this plate under historical names including:
Vaulted Calappa / Arched Box Crab – “Der gewölbte Calappe”
Granulated Calappa – “Der körnige Calappe”
Lophos Calappa – “Der Lophos-Calappe”
Running Calappa – “Der laufende Calappe”
Rhomboid Crab – “Die rhomboidische Krabbe”
Whitish Crab – “Die weißliche Krabbe”
The seven numbered illustrations show these remarkable crabs from different viewpoints, emphasizing the great variation in their shells, claws and body structures.
Particularly striking are the large rounded Calappa specimens in the upper and middle part of the composition. Their shells are decorated with intricate red, pink, orange and green markings, demonstrating the elaborate original hand coloring characteristic of Bertuch’s finest natural-history plates.
Box crabs are sometimes also called “shame-faced crabs” because their enormous claws can be held directly in front of the face. These powerful claws are specially adapted for breaking open mollusc shells.
Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747–1822) was a German publisher, writer and patron of the arts. His monumental “Bilderbuch für Kinder” (Picture Book for Children), first published in Weimar in 1790, became one of the great illustrated educational encyclopedias of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Its hundreds of engraved and hand-colored plates introduced readers to animals, plants, geography, science, technology, antiquity and cultures from around the world.
This is an especially decorative marine natural-history plate. The almost symmetrical arrangement of the crabs, combined with their extraordinary forms and delicate red, pink, green and ochre coloring, gives the engraving a highly appealing graphic quality.
Technique: Original hand-colored copper engraving
Publisher: Friedrich Justin Bertuch / Industrie-Comptoir
Publication: Bilderbuch für Kinder
Place: Weimar, Germany
Date: early 19th century, circa 1813
Plate: Insekten LXXVII / Insecta LXXVII / Insectes LXXVII
Subject: Calappa Box Crabs and Exotic Crabs
Common names: Box Crab, Shame-Faced Crab, Bashful Crab, Calappa Crab
Historical subjects listed by Bertuch:
Vaulted Calappa
Granulated Calappa
Lophos Calappa
Running Calappa
Rhomboid Crab
Whitish Crab
Condition:
Good antique condition with overall age-related toning, scattered foxing and spotting and some visible show-through or offsetting from printed text. A few more noticeable brown spots and stains are present in the lower half of the plate. The original hand coloring remains particularly attractive, with strong red, pink, green and ochre tones. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.
The engraving is loosely inserted in an acid-free matting board.
Please note: This is an original antique hand-colored copper engraving from the early 19th century, not a modern reproduction. The print is sold unframed. Framed images or interior views, if shown, are for presentation and inspiration only.
Other companion marine-life, crustacean and natural-history plates from Bertuch’s “Bilderbuch für Kinder” are also available separately.
Keywords: Friedrich Justin Bertuch, Bilderbuch für Kinder, Calappa crab, box crab, shame-faced crab, bashful crab, antique crab print, crab engraving, crustacean engraving, exotic crabs, marine life, marine zoology, ocean life, shellfish, Calappidae, natural history illustration, antique natural history, hand-colored copper engraving, marine biology, zoological print, early 19th century, Weimar, German engraving, original antique print, coastal decor, seaside interior
