Antique Natural HistoryOriginal plates from the naturalists' books, 1600s to 1900s
Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831
Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, view 2

Close-ups

Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, close-up 1Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, close-up 2Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, close-up 3Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, close-up 4Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, close-up 5

Framed and on the wall

Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, shown framedAntique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, shown framed on a wallAntique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831, shown framed in a room

Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.

Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831

€1,190 ($1,335, £1,010, €1,190)

Period original, not a reproduction.

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Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.

Date
1831
Size
10.7 × 8.9 in (27.1 × 22.7 cm)
Condition
Good. Moderate age-related toning and light surface soiling. Overall very attractive.
Period
Early 19th century
Section
Botanical
Reference
f_48074482

Antique Coffee Botanical Print, Coffea Arabica, Hand Colored, c.1831

This outstanding botanical engraving depicts Coffea Arabica, the coffee plant, shown with characteristic foliage and fruit. Coffee was one of the most influential global commodities of the 18th and 19th centuries, shaping trade routes, colonial economies, and social culture worldwide.

The plate originates from Zenker’s Merkantilische Waarenkunde and exemplifies the work’s focus on plants central to international commerce. The composition is both visually commanding and botanically precise, making it one of the strongest images in the series.

Original hand coloring enhances the natural richness of the leaves and berries, giving the plate exceptional decorative presence. This is a cornerstone piece for kitchens, dining rooms, cafés, or collections centered on the history of food and drink.

Condition report:

Moderate age-related toning and light surface soiling. Overall very attractive.

Framing tips:

An ivory mat with a dark wood or black frame creates a striking and elegant contrast.

Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring

Maker: Jonathan Carl Zenker, Germany, 1831–1832