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Rare Decorative Hand-colored Antique Plate of The Gaimard's Ray Fish, 1842
£795 ($1,055, €940)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1842
- Size
- 21.3 × 13.8 in (54 × 35 cm)
- Technique
- Engraved
- Condition
- Good. Condition report: Strong impression with fine original hand coloring. Wide margins present, with some scattered foxing and mild age toning, mostly confined to the margins. Plate mark visible.
- Period
- Early 19th century
- Section
- Fish and shells
- Reference
- f_27385402
- 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.
Antique Print of Gaimard’s Ray (La Raie de Gaimard), 1842
This elegant hand-colored lithograph represents La Raie de Gaimard (Raja gaimardi), a skate species documented during Paul Gaimard’s 1835 expedition to Iceland and Greenland. Shown from above, the fish’s diamond-shaped body and sweeping pectoral fins are rendered with fine detail, displaying the subtle gradations of its mottled brown-gray coloring. The long whip-like tail extends downward, while an inset anatomical vignette illustrates the unique structure of its mouth and dentition, underscoring the scientific purpose of the plate.
Published in Voyage en Islande et au Groenland (Paris, 1842), this plate belongs to the zoological section of Gaimard’s richly illustrated account. Although the official aim of the voyage was to search for the missing expedition of Jean de Blosseville, it instead became a landmark in Arctic exploration and natural history. The ichthyological plates, such as this depiction of the Ray, provided some of the earliest detailed illustrations of North Atlantic marine species.
The drawing was made by Louis Bévalet, one of France’s foremost natural history artists, and lithographed by J. Bernard. With careful hand coloring applied, the illustration combines accuracy with aesthetic appeal, making it both a scientific document and a striking decorative work.
Collectors value this plate for its rarity, historical significance, and visual impact, particularly when paired with the other Ray plate from the same series.
Condition report: Strong impression with fine original hand coloring. Wide margins present, with some scattered foxing and mild age toning, mostly confined to the margins. Plate mark visible.
Framing tips: A black or walnut frame with a wide ivory mat will emphasize the ray’s distinctive form. For a dramatic effect, a double mat with a dark blue or sea-green inner border can enhance its marine subject matter.
Technique: Hand-colored lithograph
Maker: Drawn by Louis Bévalet, lithographed by J. Bernard, from Paul Gaimard, Paris, 1842
