Antique Handcolored Engraving of Amphibious Eels and Snakes, c.180
€ 140
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Sheet size
19.5 × 23.5 cm (7.7 × 9.3 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13997-19
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 condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, no text on verso. Colors remain vivid. Please review images carefully.
About this sheet
This original handcolored copperplate engraving illustrates four species of amphibious or aquatic eels and snake-like creatures in dynamic poses. It is part of Friedrich Johann Bertuch’s Bilderbuch für Kinder (Picture Book for Children), a celebrated 12-volume natural history encyclopedia published between 1790 and 1830. The detailed depictions emphasize the anatomical and behavioral diversity of these creatures, blending scientific precision with artistic finesse.
The engraving features: 1. A creature resembling the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla), noted for its elongated, smooth body and narrow head. 2. A snake-like creature with yellow markings, possibly a Yellow-Spotted Water Snake (Hydrodynastes gigas). 3. A coiled species resembling a Caecilian, a limbless amphibian commonly found in tropical regions. 4. A unique species with a broad, bulbous head, likely a South American Lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa), known for its ability to breathe air.
This rare engraving is a valuable addition to collections of antique zoological illustrations, natural history art, or educational prints.
Condition Report Good condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, no text on verso. Colors remain vivid. Please review images carefully.
