Educational Lithograph of Earth’s Surface from German Geography Book, circa 1885
€ 90
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1885
Sheet size
31.2 × 40.2 cm (12.3 × 15.8 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-12956-1
Condition
The print is in good condition with strong original colors. Light toning consistent with age. Marginal wear may be present but does not affect the image. No tears or major blemishes are visible. Fold as issued.
About this sheet
Educational Lithograph of Earth’s Surface from 19th Century German Geography Book
This richly detailed educational print, titled Die Oberfläche der Erde (The Surface of the Earth), comes from the renowned 19th-century German illustrated series Geographische Charakterbilder, published by J. F. Schreiber in Esslingen and Munich. It was issued as part of the third volume of Bilder zum Anschauungs-Unterricht, a visual teaching aid for geography lessons, likely dating from the 1880s to 1890s.
The print depicts an imaginative composite landscape designed to illustrate a wide range of geographical features in a single cohesive scene. It includes snow-covered mountains, a smoking volcano, glacier flows, a high waterfall, a lake draining into a river, and a delta spilling into the sea. Alongside these natural formations are human elements such as a lighthouse, a coastal town, a sailing ship and steamboat, a railway with a viaduct and a tunnel, and a country road with a horse and cart. The print also shows dunes created by sand washed ashore, as well as reefs, islands, and a train winding its way through a mountainous valley.
This lithograph is not based on a real place but was created to visually communicate a broad overview of Earth’s surface formations in a way that could be easily understood by schoolchildren. It reflects the 19th-century ideal of combining art and education, and the accompanying text offers an explanation of each feature. The work is printed in vivid chromolithography, a technique widely used at the time for educational materials because of its clarity and colorfulness.
J. F. Schreiber was one of the most influential publishers of educational wall and book illustrations in Germany, and this print exemplifies the high quality of both their artistry and pedagogy.
Condition report: The print is in very good condition with strong original colors. Light toning consistent with age. Marginal wear may be present but does not affect the image. No tears or major blemishes are visible.
Framing tips: This piece would look elegant in a natural wood or walnut frame with a cream or warm off-white mat. For a more formal academic look, a black frame with a gold inner lining would also suit the historical nature of the print.
