Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century

Close-ups

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century, close-up 1

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century, close-up 2

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century, close-up 3

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century, close-up 4

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Framed and on the wall

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century, shown framed

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century, shown framed on a wall

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

Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century

Name: Egyptian Vultures, Antique Bird Print, Ornithology Illustration, 19th Century
SKU: f_46592662
Price: 290 USD
Availability: InStock

€260 ($290, £220, €260)

Period original, not a reproduction.

Enquire about this print

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

Date: Not stated
Size: 15.6 × 11.3 in (39.5 × 28.7 cm)
Condition: Very good impression with strong original colors. Slight toning to margins and a few minor age-related spots, not affecting the image.
Section: Birds
Reference: f_46592662
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 Print of Egyptian Vultures by Oskar von Riesenthal, 1894

Description: Antique print (unframed), titled: 'Taf. XLVII. Neophron percnopterus, Aegyptischer Aasgeier.', This plate depicts the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), with both an adult and a juvenile bird. The adult, with its pale plumage and distinctive bare yellow face, is contrasted with the darker, brown-feathered juvenile. They are set against a landscape evocative of North Africa, with pyramids and palm trees in the distance, a visual cue to their range and cultural significance. At their feet lies a skull, reinforcing their ecological role as scavengers.

This original antique print comes from Die Raubvögel Deutschlands und des angrenzenden Mitteleuropas by Oskar von Riesenthal. Published in Gera by S. B. Griesbach in 1894. The second edition of this monumental series, first published in 1876–78, is celebrated for its lifelike depictions of European and adjacent-region raptors.

Artists and Engravers: Julius Adolf Oskar von Riesenthal (1830–1898), German forester, ornithologist, hunter, and writer, after an anonymous artist. His meticulous attention to natural detail gives these plates both scientific and artistic value.

Condition: Very good impression with strong original colors. Slight toning to margins and a few minor age-related spots, not affecting the image. Sold as a print, not including a frame or matting board.

Framing tips: This plate works beautifully as a stand-alone display. A cream or soft beige matting enhances the pale feathers of the adult bird, while a dark wood or ebony frame provides contrast. When paired with other exotic raptor plates from Riesenthal’s series, it highlights the geographic diversity of the collection.

Technique: Chromolithograph

Maker: Oskar von Riesenthal, Gera, 1894