The Black Iguana on Banana Tree – Antique Reptile Natural History Print, 1895
€ 255
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1895
Mapmaker / artist
P. J. Smit, European natural history illustrator, c. 1880–1900
Technique
Color lithograph
Sheet size
25.5 × 17 cm (10.0 × 6.7 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13341-51
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 antique condition with age-related toning, occasional foxing, and minor handling wear consistent with age. Original margins preserved. Please review the photographs carefully for a complete assessment of condition.
About this sheet
The Black Iguana on Banana Tree – Antique Reptile Natural History Print, 1895
This attractive antique natural history print depicts a Black Iguana perched on the trunk of a banana tree amidst lush tropical vegetation. Rendered in soft natural colors, the illustration combines scientific accuracy with decorative appeal, capturing the exotic character of one of the New World's most recognizable reptiles.
The iguana is shown in a characteristic climbing pose, gripping the trunk while surrounded by broad banana leaves and hanging fruit. The artist carefully records the reptile's distinctive anatomy, including its powerful limbs, elongated tail, spiny crest, and textured scales. The tropical setting enhances the sense of place and reflects the nineteenth-century fascination with exotic wildlife from Central and South America.
Created by P. J. Smit, this print belongs to a period when illustrated natural history books introduced readers to the remarkable animals of distant continents. Advances in lithographic printing allowed publishers to produce richly colored images that combined educational value with artistic quality. The result is a print that remains both scientifically interesting and visually engaging more than a century later.
The subtle palette of greens, warm browns, and muted earth tones gives the composition a refined decorative quality. The vertical format and strong central subject make it particularly effective as wall art, whether displayed individually or grouped with other zoological illustrations.
Today, antique reptile prints are increasingly sought after by collectors of natural history, herpetology, tropical wildlife, and Victorian scientific illustration. The combination of an impressive iguana, tropical flora, and fine period lithography makes this an appealing piece for both collectors and interior designers.
This is an original antique color lithograph, not a reproduction. The print is sold unframed. Any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only.
Framing tips: Particularly effective in a dark walnut, ebonized, or bamboo-style frame with a warm ivory museum mat. The tropical subject matter also works beautifully in conservatories, studies, libraries, and contemporary interiors featuring natural materials and botanical elements.
