Fine Rare Prints

Information

This wonderful antique lithograph is from a superb and rare set of natural history prints, The Instructive Picture Book. This contained some of the most attractive antique prints of animals that have ever been made. The animals are placed in realistic and fascinating environments. This print has original hand finished coloring and is from the exceptionally rare 1867 edition.

These lithographs are reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints of the period. They are quite unlike any other antique prints we have seen.

Date

1867

Print method

Multi-block color stone lithograph with hand finished coloring

Stone lithography was accidentally discovered by a young actor who, in order to save spending too much on copper engraving plates, tried to print using a smooth limestone he took from a street in Munich. He had stumbled upon a marvelous printing technique which was soon being used by famous artists such as Goya, and later Manet and Degas.

Lithography has always been surrounded by a certain mystique. Partly this is due to the fact that even today the complexities of the chemical reactions have yet to be fully understood, but mainly it is because the workshops veiled their methods in secrecy.

Size

Small folio ~ 12¼" by 7¾" (32cm by 19½cm). The border around the print is slightly bigger than shown in the scan above as the print was larger than the scanner.

Condition

The image area is clean and colors are vibrant, with just the odd speck of foxing on a few of these prints. The paper is somewhat age toned especially close to the edges.

To order

Please note the order number for this print which is shown at the top of the page. Then click on the Order button at the top or the Order link at the bottom of this page.