Timeless Intaglio Art

This beautiful and extremely rare early 17th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of four flowering Digitalis plants by the Dutch artist and botanist Emanuel Sweert is plate 6 ...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of a pair of red and black woodpecker birds entitled "1. Pie Roux, de Cayenne 2. Petit Pie Noir, de Cayenne (Red a...

This is an early 18th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of the anatomy of a Cedar Flower citrus fruit by Johann Christoph Volkhamer, entitled "Cedro di fiore e Sugo doppia (...

This is an early 18th century hand-colored copperplate engraving of the anatomy of grapefruit by Johann Christoph Volkhamer, entitled "Pompelmus (Grapefruit), Der Herra Sitz und Burg...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a parrot bird entitled "La Bondree (Bird of Prey)" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 420 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in association wi...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a parrot bird entitled "La Perruche-Ara, de Cayenne (Parrot)" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 864 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in ass...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a black guillemot bird entitled "Le Guillemot" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 903 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in association with G...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a turtledove entitled "Tourterelle du Senegal (Turtledove of Senegal)" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 160 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseau...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a turtledove entitled "Tourterelle a Collier, du Senegal (Turtledove of Senegal)" by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 161 from 'Histoire Naturelle...

This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving entitled "Orobanche, Cicuta Maxima, Sparganium (Bur Reed, Water Hemlock, Broomrape) ", depicting a flowering Bur Reed, Water Hemlock, Broomrape plants from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713. This beautiful colorful engraving is printed on thin laid chain-linked paper with wide margins. There us spotting and some discoloration, most prominently in the upper and lower margins. There is irregularity and some loss along the right paper edge. The print is otherwise in excellent condition with striking hand-coloring. The sheet measures 21.5" high and 17.25" wide. Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop...

This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving entitled "Ptarmica Vulgaris (Sneezewort), Papaver Spinosum (Mexican Poppy), Chrysocame Peregrina (Seaside Strawflower)", depicting flowering Sneezewort, Mexican Poppy and Seaside Strawberry plants respectively from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713. This beautiful colorful engraving is printed on thin laid chain-linked paper. The left margin is thinner than the others and the left edge is somewhat irregular where the engraving was previously bound in the original publication. The print is otherwise in excellent condition with striking hand-coloring. The sheet measures 20" high and 16.38" wide. Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop...

This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of a flowering Betel Nut Palm plants, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Fagus Fau Buch,...

This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of a flowering Red Narcissus Lily plant, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Narcissus In...

This is a striking original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line double page engraving of banana plants, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Banana 1. Musa,...

This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of flowering Gas Plants or Burning Bush and Fraxinella, which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitle...

This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of flowering Red Sweet Peas which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Lathyrus Flore Majore Pur...

This is an original antique colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving of flowering Red Geraniums which is finished with hand-coloring. It is entitled "Geranium Anemones folio Af...

This colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving finished with hand coloring by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled a. Thyrsus asparagi. b. Asparagus, Asperge. c. Aspa...

This striking hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving is entitled "Gnaphalium, Gossypium (Cotton Plant)". It is plate 551 in Johann Weinmann's monumental publication "Phy...

This is a hand-colored antique engraving depicting the natural history of the Tortoise-shell Butterfly and Privet Hawk Moth, which is plate 2 from Moses Harris' publication "The Aure...

This is a hand-colored antique engraving depicting the natural history of the the Brown Hairstreak Butterfly, the Larke Skipper Butterfly, the Small Skipper Butterfly, the Scarce Mar...

This is a hand-colored engraving depicting the natural history of Pinkunderwing Moths, Cream Spotted Tyger Moths in their natural botanical environment, which is plate 4 from Moses H...

This is a hand-colored engraving depicting the natural history of moths and a lady bug, which is plate 22 from Moses Harris' publication "The Aurelian: or Natural History of English Insects; Namely Moths & Butterflies", first published in London in 1766 and this from an 1840 edition. The engraving depicts the natural history developmental stages of the Burnished Brass Moth, the Dark Gothic...

This is a rare, original first edition hand-colored engraving depicting the natural history of butterflies and moths, which is plate 10 from Moses Harris' publication "The Aurelian: ...

This is a rare, original first edition hand-colored engraving of Peacock Butterflies and Water Betony Moths depicted in their natural botanical environment, which is plate 8 from Mos...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored 1st octavo edition lithograph entitled "Hudsonian Godwit, 1. Male, 2. Female, Summer Plumage", No. 70, Plate 349 from...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Scolopaceous Courlan", No. 63, Plate 312 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Virginian Rail, 1. Male, 2. Female, 3. Young", No. 63, Plate 311 from Audubon's "Birds of Americ...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Great Red-breasted Rail or Fresh Water Marsh Hen, 1. Male Adult, 2. Young", No. 62, Plate 309 fr...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "4128 Audubon, Purple Gallinule, Adult Male, Spring Plumage", No. 61, Plate 303 from Audubon's "B...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Common Scaup Duck, 1. Male, 2. Female", No. 100, Plate 498 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen and published in Philadelphia in 1856. It depicts male and female Scaup ducks sitting on a mound, looking to the right at water. A lighthouse is seen on a point of land in the background on the right. This original hand-colored Common Scaup Duck lithograph...

This is an original 19th century John James Audubon hand-colored lithograph entitled "Missouri Meadow Lark, Male", No. 98, Plate 489 from Audubon's "Birds of America, lithographed, p...

This colorful and detailed early 18th century copperplate map by John Cary entitled "A New Map of Persia from the Latest Authorities" was published in London in 1801. It depicts Persia, the region of modern day Afghanistan, the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Aral, the Persian Gulf...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled "Archibuteo Lagopus" (Rough-Legged Buzzard) by John Gould and Edward Lear, from Gould's "Birds of Great Britain", published in London between 1862 and 1873. The print depicts an adult Rough-Legged Buzzard perched on a branch of a tree looking to the left. This beautiful framed Gould hand-colored lithograph is presented in a gold-colored wood frame and cream-colored French mat, embellished by a gold-colored fillet. The frame measures 33" high, 25.5" wide and 1.25" thick. It is in excellent condition There are several other unframed Gould bird lithographs available on our 1stdibs and InCollect storefronts. Two or more of these striking lithographs would make an attractive display grouping. A discount is available for purchase of a set depending on the number. These additional Gould hummingbirds may be viewed by typing Timeless Intaglio in the 1stdibs or InCollect search field to be taken to our storefront. John Gould (1804-1881]) was an English ornithologist and artist. He, like his American contemporary John James Audubon, published a number of books on birds in the mid 19th century, illustrated by hand-colored lithographs. His wife and fellow artist, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists including Edward Lear and Henry Constantine Richter produced lithographs for his various publications. He has been considered the father of bird study in Australia and the Gould League in Australia is named after him. Charles Darwin referenced Gould’s work in his book, "On the Origin of Species" and Gould named a bird after Darwin; "Darwin's finches". Gould began his career in London as a taxidermist, but in 1827 became the first curator and conservator at the museum of the Zoological Society of London. In this position naturalists brought him collections of birds from all over the world. He began creating drawings and eventually hand-colored lithographs with his wife and Edward Lear, which were the basis for his first publications. Darwin brought him specimens from the Galapagos Islands, including 12 species of finches which had never been described. In 1838, Gould and his wife travelled to Australia and their work led to the seven volume publication of “The Birds of Australia”. Gould had a fascination for hummingbirds and collected specimens of 320 varieties before ever seeing a live hummingbird on a trip to the United States in 1857. He eventually published “A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-birds". Other large publications include: "The Birds of Europe"," A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans”, “A Synopsis of the Birds of Australia, and the Adjacent Islands”, “A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America”, “The Birds of Asia”, “The Birds of Great Britain” and "The Birds of New Guinea and the Adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia". John Gould (1804-1881) was a British ornithologist and illustrator who is best known for his monumental work, "The Birds of Europe," published between 1832 and 1837. Gould was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, and began working as a taxidermist and natural history dealer in London in the 1820s. In 1827, Gould was appointed the first curator and preserver of birds at the Zoological Society of London, where he began to build his collection of specimens and began to study the birds of the world. He published his first monograph, "A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains," in 1831, which included 80 plates of Himalayan birds. Gould continued to publish numerous volumes on the birds of the world throughout his life, including "The Birds of Australia" (1840-1848) and "The Birds of Great Britain" (1862-1873). His works were highly regarded for their accuracy and detail, and he was one of the most prominent ornithologists of his time. In addition to his work as an ornithologist, Gould was also a successful businessman, and he used his profits to fund expeditions and to support the scientific community. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1843, and he was awarded the Royal Medal...

This is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Syrnium Aluco" (Tawny or Brown Owl) by John Gould, from his "Birds of G...

This is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Pernis Apivorus (The Honey Buzzard) by John Gould, plate 6 in volume 1 of his "Birds of Great Britain", published in London between 1862 and 1873. The print depicts an adult Honey Buzzard perched on a branch of a leafy tree in the foreground and three others in the background. The bird in the foreground has an insect in its beak and others are in flight on the right This striking framed Gould...

This is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Bubo Maximus" (Great Horned or Eagle Owl) by John Gould, from the supplement to his "Birds of Great Britain", published in London between 1862 and 1873. The print depicts an adult Eagle Owl about to feed her brood of babies who are in the their nest. A another adult (possibly the male) is seen in the distant background in the upper right. This striking framed Gould...

This beautiful 19th century framed hand-colored engraving/etching entitled "Ullyses Deriding Polyphemus" by Edward Goodall is based on an original 1829 painting by the renowned Briti...

This beautiful 19th century framed hand-colored engraving is entitled "St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall" by J. Saddler after an original painting by the British artist Myles Birket Fost...

This is an original framed 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled "Ramphomicron vulcani" (Southern Thorn-Bill Hummingbirds) by John Gould, Pl. 186 from his "Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Hummingbirds", published in London in 1853. The print depicts two Southern Thorn-Bill hummingbirds sitting on branches of a flowering plant. This striking framed Gould hand-colored lithograph is presented in a antiqued gold frame, a gold-colored fillet, and a light tan French mat, embellished with a mint-colored broad band. The frame measures 32" high, 25.5" wide and 1.25" thick. The hand-coloring is enhanced by the use of gum-arabic paint...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "Scarborough" by W. Chapman is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner. It was published in London by ...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "Dover" by Thomas Lupton is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner, which depicts a panoramic view of the harbor of Dover, a town in southeastern England, that has been an important port for centuries. The engraving captures the dramatic sky and sea that Turner was known for, with billowing clouds and waves crashing against the shore. The town and its famous white cliffs are visible in the background, while ships and boats dot the harbor in the foreground. Several wooden rowboats...

This beautiful 19th century framed engraving "Line Fishing Off Hastings" by William Miller is based on an original painting by the renowned British artist J.M.W. Turner, which depicts a scene of fishermen at work off the coast of the town of Hastings in East Sussex, England. The Miller engraving faithfully reproduces Turner's painting, capturing the same atmospheric quality and sense of motion. In the foreground of the image, a group of fishermen are shown in a small boat, with one man using a fishing line to catch fish. In the background, there is a larger ship, along with a view of the town of Hastings and the cliffs beyond. Overall, the Miller engraving "Line Fishing Off Hastings" is a beautiful and detailed representation of Turner's original painting, and provides a glimpse into life in a 19th century fishing community. This colorful 19th century engraving is presented in a gold-colored wood frame and a cream-colored French mat highlighted with a light blue band and thinner mustard and gold-colored bands. There is a gold-colored fillet which further embellishes the engraving. The frame measures 18" high, 20.5" wide and 1" deep. The engraving, frame and mat are in excellent condition. Joseph Mallord William (J.M.W.) Turner (1775-1851) was an English painter who is widely considered one of the greatest landscape painters in Western art history. Born in London, he showed a remarkable talent for art from a young age, and studied at the Royal Academy of Arts from the age of 14. He quickly gained recognition for his watercolor landscapes, which were highly innovative and expressive. Turner's style evolved over time, and he became increasingly interested in the effects of light and color. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, and his experiences of the natural world, particularly the sea and the sky, had a profound influence on his art. His paintings are known for their luminosity, atmospheric effects, and dramatic use of color. Despite facing criticism and ridicule from some of his contemporaries, Turner continued to push the boundaries of art, experimenting with new techniques and styles throughout his career. He was a prolific artist, creating thousands of paintings, sketches, and watercolors, and his legacy continues to inspire artists today. William Miller (1796-1882) was an English engraver and publisher, best known for his work in reproducing the paintings of J.M.W. Turner. Miller was born in Bristol and began his career as an engraver at a young age, working for a variety of publications and artists. In the early 1820s, Miller began working with Turner, engraving many of the artist's most famous works, including "The Fighting Temeraire...

This early 19th century etching entitled "Veduta degl' Avanzi delle Torri di Belisario Dalla parte che guarda l' Interno della Città, vicino a Porta S. Giovanni, A. Mura Aureliane" (...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Exact Chart of all the Countries through which Capt. Behring Travelled from Tobolski, Capital of Siberia to the Country...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Chart of The Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea's; with the Archipelago & Part of the Black Sea. Exhibiting all th...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of The Whole Russian Empire, As Contain'd Both In Europe and Asia, Drawn from Authentic Journals, Sur...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "An Accurate Map of the East Indies Exhibiting the Course of the European Trade both on the Continent and Islands" by Emanu...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of China, Drawn from Surveys made by the Jesuit Missionaries, by order of the Emperor. The whole bein...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of Europe Drawn from the Best Authorities Assisted by the Most Improved Modern Charts and Maps." by E...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored copper-plate engraving by Giovanni Volpato after a drawing by Camporesi. It was the frontispiece for volume one of the rare and valuable...

This is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Cacatua Ophthalimica” (Blue-eyed Cockatoo) by John Gould, from the supplement to his "Birds of Australia", published in London between 1851 and 1869. The print depicts a large blue-eyed cockatoo perched on a branch, with its head turned to the left. The scene is enhanced with leaves and sky and clouds in the background. This striking framed Gould...

This is a framed original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled “Ciconia Alba” (A family of storks) by John Gould, from the supplement to his "Birds of Great Brit...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithograph entitled "Falco Candicans" (Greenland Falcon Light) by John Gould, from his "Birds of Great Britain", published i...

This is a 17th century hand-colored map entitled "Insula Gaditana Isla de Cadiz" from Johannes (Joan) Blaeu's Atlas Maior, published in Amsterdam in 1662. The map provides an excellent plan of Cadiz Island on the southwest coast of Spain, with its harbor, fortifications, agricultural fields and several surrounding salt processing areas. Numerous sailing ships of various sizes are included in and around the harbor and bay, including five large sailing ships, as well as twenty-four smaller ships. There is a small compass rose overlying the bay. The bridge to the mainland from the island is shown on the right. There is an extremely ornate and colorful title cartouche in the lower left, with its mythological figures reminiscent of Raphael’s Galatea fresco at the Villa Farnesina in Rome. The vibrant colors are vividly preserved. The master colorist tried to emulate a painting by using various tones to create a three-dimensional effect.
 Blaeu's name is present in the plate in the lower right. Blaeu stated in his description of Cadiz: “The main wealth of the islanders consists of salt, which they harvest, and
 the tuna fisheries.” 
 This 17th century hand-colored map is framed in an ornate, partially textured bronze-colored wood frame and glazed with UV protected conservation glass. There is a vertical center fold, as issued. There is a faint crease in the lower right and faint color offset on the left from the right side of the map, resulting from having been in an atlas for hundreds of years. Small foci of paint are present in the upper portion of the left margin and in the left corner margin. The map is otherwise in very good condition. Due in large part to their powerful trade empire, the Dutch became known for cartography in the seventeenth century. This period is considered the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. Their publishing houses produced the highest quality work in Europe, particularly those maps and charts of foreign lands, and Dutch map-making set the bar for cartographic accuracy and artistry into the early-eighteenth century. Some of the most well-known cartographers worked in Amsterdam during this period. Perhaps the most famous of these was the Blaeu family. Willem Janszoon Blaeu, set up shop in Amsterdam. His son, Johannes (Joan), succeeded him upon his death in 1638, continuing in his father’s position as Hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company and selling maps to the public. The Blaeu map presses, located near Amsterdam’s Dam Square...

"Midnight Wolf" is a framed signed limited edition abstract inuit native people's work by Northwest Coast Haida artist Clarence Mills. The print depicts a st...

This framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi is entitled "Dimostransi nella Tav. presente la Pianta, ed Elevazione del Ponte, oggi detto Quattro Capi egli è antichissimo, e chiamavasi Fabrizio da L. Fabrizio Presid. delle Strade, che lo fabbrico' nel fine della Repubblica. "(The Plan and Elevation of the Bridge, today called Quattro Capi. The architect is very ancient, and was called Fabrizio da L. Fabrizio Presid. delle Strade, who built it at the end of the Republic). This is plate 18 in volume 4 of Piranesi's "Le antichita romane opera di Giambatista Piranesi architetto veneziano" (Roman antiquities by Giambatista Piranesi Venetian architect). It was published in Rome in 1756-1757. This etching depicts the plan and elevation of the bridge now called the Ponte dei Quattoro Capi or Ponte Cestio (Bridge of the Four Heads), which in antiquity was called the Bridge of Fabricius after L. Fabricius, the Superintendant of the Streets who built it at the end of the Republic, around 62 BC. It was also been known in the Middle Ages as ‘Ponte Giudeo’ (Bridge of the Jews). The bridge crossed from the left bank or northeast side of the Tiber River to Tiber Island...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Qua-Ta-Wa-Pea, A Shawanoe Chief", from McKenney and Hall's 'History of the Indian Tribes of North America'. It was lithographed by J. T. Bowen after a painting by Charles Bird King and published by E. C. Biddle in Philadelphia in 1836. Quatawapea wears a maroon head covering, a white ruffled shirt and blue shawl with gray trim. His presidential peace medal is attached to a maroon fabric...

This is an original 19th century hand-colored folio-sized lithographic portrait of a Native American entitled "Tah-Chee, A Cherokee Chief", from McKenney and Hall's 'History of the Indian Tribes of North America'. It was lithographed by J. T. Bowen after a painting by Charles Bird King and published by E. C. Biddle in Philadelphia in 1838. Tahchee's name translates to Dutch in Cherokee, and he became known as William Dutch. He was born in 1790 in the Cherokee Nation, which is now in a portion of Alabama. Tahchee became known as a skilled warrior and leader among his people, and he was eventually appointed as a chief of the Cherokee Nation "Old Settlers". During his time as chief, Tahchee was a rival of the Osage people and he worked to protect the Cherokee people and their land from encroachment by white settlers. He was a strong advocate for maintaining Cherokee sovereignty and cultural traditions, even as pressure mounted from the United States government to remove the Cherokee from their ancestral lands. In 1838, Tahchee and many other Cherokee people were forcibly removed from their homes in what is known as the Trail of Tears...

This attractive and interesting map of Bermuda by Henricus Hondius in 1633 is entitled "Mappa Aestivarum Insularum, Alias Barmudas". It is based on a ...