Le Cachalot Macrocéphale (Sperm Whale), Hand-Colored Engraving, 1840

€ 260

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

Date: 1840
Sheet size: 16.5 × 25.6 cm (6.5 × 10.1 in)
Condition: Good
Reference: BG-14320-9

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

Minor age-related toning and occasional light spotting, with small remnants of binding along the upper margin as issued. Overall in very good condition with attractive original hand-coloring.

About this sheet

Le Cachalot Macrocéphale (Sperm Whale), Hand-Colored Engraving, 1840

A dramatic and finely executed natural history engraving depicting the mighty sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) against a rugged coastal landscape. Tiny human figures and a rowing boat emphasize the extraordinary scale of the animal, reflecting the nineteenth-century fascination with the mysteries of the world's oceans. The composition combines scientific observation with Romantic landscape aesthetics, characteristic of the great French illustrated natural history publications of the period.

Designed by Édouard Traviès and engraved by Beyer & Mancoux, the print was published by Furne in Paris around 1840 as part of a celebrated series devoted to marine life. The original hand-coloring remains delicate and luminous, preserving the elegance intended by its creators.

Presented unframed. Framed images are for inspiration only.