Marine Splendor: Hand-Colored Zoophytes of the 19th Century
€290 ($325, £245, €290)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- Not stated
- Size
- 9.6 × 6.1 in (24.5 × 15.5 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Good. Some edges a bit rough, but leaving enough space for matting or framing. Some soiling due to handling over almost 200 years. Study the images carefully.
- Section
- Fish and shells
- Reference
- f_38163932
- Color
- Hand colored
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.
A collage of two original antique prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849.
Description: This exquisite collage presents a selection of marine invertebrates, or zoophytes, from the celebrated "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle". These detailed illustrations depict the intricate beauty and diversity of coral-like organisms, showcasing the scientific and artistic achievements of the 19th century. The delicate hand-coloring highlights the natural elegance of these sea creatures, making the prints both a scientific document and a piece of art.
The species depicted in the prints from the "Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle," published in 1849, are as follows:
**First Print:**
1. **Veretillum cynomorium** - Commonly known as the "sea pen," this species resembles a quill pen, hence the name. It's a type of soft coral in the order Pennatulacea.
2. **Actinia equina** - This is the common sea anemone, often found on rocky shores.
2.2 **Actinia equina (contracted)** - The same species, shown in a contracted state, which sea anemones can do when disturbed or when they are conserving moisture during low tide.
**Second Print:**
1. **Flustra foliacea** - Also known as the "hornwrack," a type of bryozoan, which is a colonial organism that superficially resembles coral.
2. **Corallium rubrum** - Commonly referred to as red coral, it's actually a species of marine invertebrate in the order Alcyonacea.
3. **Cornularia elegans** - Another soft coral species, part of the order Alcyonacea.
4. **Sertularia pumila** - A species of hydrozoan, which is part of a group that also includes the Portuguese man o' war.
These species are representative of the biodiversity found in marine ecosystems and were of great interest during the 19th century for studies in marine biology and natural history. The illustrations are notable for their accuracy and the artistry with which they were rendered.
