Water beetles

28 x 20 cm (10.5 x 8 inches).

Genus Dytiscus

This exquisitely detailed engraving is from a set made in London by Abraham Rees in the period 1797-1820. It is an antique, not a modern reproduction. Many of the prints in this set were engraved from artwork by Sydenham Edwards, a multi-talented gentleman also well known for his superb botanical illustrations, classical garden designs and his design of the Crystal Palace in London. Each print from this set is individually dated, with dates ranging from 1797 to 1820.
It is in very good condition. The paper is quite thick, clean and bright, with just a trace of darkening at the very edge. On a few of the prints the image and/or plate number is either very close to the edge or slightly cropped (if this is the case it is shown in the above photo). The colored ones have later hand painted colors. It was made by engraving and printing from a copper printing plate.