Other Natural History · 18th century
€ 240
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good condition. Beautiful hand-coloured with some traces of soiling due to handling and age, but mostly outside the plate-mark. Study the images carefully.
This antique engraving is a detailed illustration of various marine fossils and multivalves, originally published as Plate LXVII in *Histoire Naturelle*. It beautifully captures the diversity and intricate forms of marine life as understood in the 18th century. The engraving showcases numerous fossilized shells, coral, and other marine specimens with labels corresponding to their classification.
The depicted fossils include:
A1, A3: Marine Shells
B1, B2, B3, B4, B5: Bivalves and Oysters
C1, C2, C3: Various Coral Forms
D1, D2, D3, D4: Fossil Mollusks
E1, E2, E3: Marine Gastropods
F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z: Assorted Fossils and Shells
Multivalves Section: Includes different types of multivalve fossils, denoted by letters C, A1, D, E, F, G, H, I1, I2, K, L, M
The engraving was created by the talented artist Jacques de Favanne and engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet, notable illustrators of natural history works during the 18th century. It is a fine representation of marine fossils and showcases the meticulous detail characteristic of early scientific illustration. This engraving, published around 1760, serves as both an artistic and scientific document, illustrating marine life as it was understood during the Enlightenment.
This piece is not yet framed but ideal for collectors of natural history art, fossil enthusiasts, or anyone interested in adding a vintage touch to their collection. The engraving provides an intriguing glimpse into the early study of paleontology and the fascination with the natural world in the 18th century.
