Close-ups
Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look; the description says what is included.
Antique Tobacco Botanical Print, Nicotiana Tabacum, c.1831
£795 ($1,050, €940)
Period original, not a reproduction.
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 spotting. Image remains strong.
- Period
- Early 19th century
- Section
- Botanical
- Reference
- f_48094022
- Colour
- Hand coloured
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.
Antique Tobacco Botanical Print, Nicotiana Tabacum, c.1831
Description:
This elegant botanical engraving depicts Nicotiana Tabacum, the tobacco plant, with flowering stems, leaves, and analytical details. Tobacco was one of the most influential cash crops in global trade, deeply intertwined with colonial economies and social history.
The plate comes from Zenker’s Merkantilische Waarenkunde and balances scientific clarity with visual grace. The soft pink flowers add delicacy to an otherwise powerful commercial subject.
Original hand coloring is subtle and refined, giving the plate excellent decorative appeal.
Condition report:
Moderate age-related toning and light spotting. Image remains strong.
Framing tips:
A pale ivory mat with a dark wood or black frame creates a refined contrast.
Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring
Maker: Jonathan Carl Zenker, Germany, 1831–1832
