Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

Cinchona Bark Varieties: A Rare Hand-Colored Illustrated Botanical Atlas (1826)

$3,457.03per set
£2,564.78per set
€2,900per set
CA$4,732.85per set
A$5,302.32per set
CHF 2,759.85per set
MX$64,572.05per set
NOK 35,156.81per set
SEK 33,107.79per set
DKK 22,081.09per set
Quantity
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Title: Cinchona Bark Varieties: An Illustrated Botanical Atlas (1826)** Description: This rare and finely illustrated botanical atlas, 'Versuch einer Monographie der China. Nur Atlas' (Hamburg: Hartwig & Müller, 1826), presents a remarkable visual documentation of various species of 'Cinchona', the medicinal tree whose bark was the historical source of quinine. The work consists solely of the atlas, featuring eight meticulously hand-colored copper engravings depicting different varieties of 'Cinchona' bark, each labeled with its respective name and numbering system. This atlas represents one of the earliest and most detailed visual studies of the bark that played a crucial role in treating malaria. The 'Cinchona' tree, native to South America—primarily Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia—was highly valued for its medicinal properties, and its bark became a vital commodity in European pharmaceutical trade. The illustrations in this work highlight the diverse textures, colors, and characteristics of the bark as it was harvested and prepared for medicinal use. Each plate presents different 'Cinchona' species, such as 'China rubra', 'China Huanuco', 'China regia', 'China flava', 'China Huamalies', and 'China de Loxa', with particular emphasis on their external and internal structures. The detailed botanical renderings capture the variations in thickness, surface roughness, and the distinct layers of bark, providing an invaluable reference for pharmacologists and botanists of the 19th century. The final plate, 'Zur Geographie der Cinchonen', is an exceptional illustration that maps the geographical distribution of 'Cinchona' trees in relation to altitude and climate. This topographical diagram, complete with annotations, places 'Cinchona' within the context of its natural environment, offering insights into the growing conditions necessary for its cultivation. This work is a significant contribution to early botanical and pharmaceutical literature, reflecting the intense European interest in medicinal plants during the 19th century. Although the text volume is missing from this copy, the surviving plates remain an extraordinary visual study of the world’s most famous medicinal bark. Condition notes include signs of wear, light browning, occasional foxing, and library stamps, but the hand-colored illustrations remain vivid and retain their scientific and artistic value. One page has a handwritten title and is possible from the author himself. The opposite page has been cut. This unique work serves as an essential reference for historians of medicine, botanical illustration enthusiasts, and collectors of early pharmacological literature. Condition Report Versuch einer Monographie der China. Nur Atlas. (Hamburg, Hartwig & Müller, 1826) General Condition: - Format: Large folio (Gr. Fol.) - Binding: Period half binding with a later cloth spine. - Cover Condition: Moderate wear, rubbing, and signs of handling. Boards show some surface wear and abrasions. - Spine: Later cloth spine in good structural condition, though not original. Plates & Illustrations: - Number of Plates: 8 hand-colored copper engravings, complete. - Paper Quality: Thick paper stock with good preservation of illustrations. - Condition of Plates: - Some general age-related toning and light browning. - Scattered foxing, mostly marginal, not affecting illustrations significantly. - A few minor stains, but the images remain vibrant and well-detailed. - No major tears, folds, or repairs detected. Text & Annotations: - Text Volume: Missing; this copy contains only the atlas. - Title Page: Not present in the atlas, as expected. - Marginalia: No handwritten notes or contemporary annotations detected. - Library Stamps: Present, but unobtrusive. Structural Integrity: - Binding Strength: Sound and intact. - Hinges: Holding well; no significant splitting. - Endpapers: Front free endpaper with a small cutout, possibly from previous ownership marking. Final Assessment: - Overall Rating: Good condition for its age, with minor wear and handling marks typical of 19th-century folios. - Significance: A rare and scientifically important botanical work, especially valuable for its detailed hand-colored plates. - Suitability for Collection: Highly desirable for collectors of historical botanical illustrations, pharmacological history, and early scientific atlases.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20.08 in (51 cm)Width: 12.41 in (31.5 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 8
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Paper,Engraved
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1826
  • Condition:
    Atlas-only volume in good condition. Binding with later cloth spine, some wear and rubbing. Plates complete with minor browning, scattered foxing and light stains. No major tears or repairs. Library stamps present but unobtrusive. Structurally sound.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-140541stDibs: LU3054343966062

More From This Seller

View All
Verdant Varieties: A Vintage Botanical Collection from 1880
Located in Langweer, NL
The original antique prints are from "Les Plantes à Feuillage Coloré" (Plants with Colored Foliage), Tome Second, which reflects the 19th-century European fascination with botany and...
Category

Antique 1880s Prints

Materials

Paper

Verdant Varieties: A Vintage Botanical Collection from 1880
$228 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Free Shipping
Small and Rare Natural History Prints Featuring Insects and Plants, 1832
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Rare 19th-Century Natural History Prints Featuring Insects and Plants Description: This set of four original antique prints offers a captivating glimpse into the rich detail ...
Category

Antique 1830s Prints

Materials

Paper

Variegated Elegance: A Collection of 19th Century Botanical Prints
Located in Langweer, NL
These prints are from "Les Plantes à Feuillage Coloré," specifically from the second volume, published in Paris in 1880, with J. Rothschild as the publisher. Each print showcases a different plant species with distinct variegated foliage: 1. The first print shows a leaf of the Phormium tenax, commonly known as New Zealand flax. The leaf is long and arching, with a green base color and prominent red marginal stripes. The central vein is also red, and the texture of the leaf is suggested through fine parallel lines indicating the fibrous nature of the flax. 2. The second print illustrates a leaf of the Maranta leuconeura, also known as prayer plant...
Category

Antique 1880s Prints

Materials

Paper

Exquisite Antique Natural History Prints: Insects, Larvae, and Life Cycles, 1832
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Exquisite Antique Natural History Prints: Insects, Larvae, and Life Cycles Description: This set of four original antique prints from 1832 is a captivating exploration of ...
Category

Antique 1830s Prints

Materials

Paper

Rare Antique Natural History Prints: Fascinating Insects and Life Cycles, 1832
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Rare Antique Natural History Prints: Fascinating Insects and Life Cycles Description: This set of four small original antique prints from 1832 offers an extraordinary gli...
Category

Antique 1830s Prints

Materials

Paper

A Heritage of Flora: Original Antique Engraving of Diverse Plant Species, 1845
Located in Langweer, NL
The image is an original hand-colored engraving from The Classical Natural Sciences Dictionary by Drapiez (1845), showcasing various plant species with scientific precision and aesth...
Category

Antique 1840s Prints

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

Two 18th Century Hand Colored Botanical Engraving of Plants from (1771)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Adorning the walls, two gracefully framed botanical engravings from 1771 capture nature's elegance in exquisite detail. Delicate strokes of...
Category

Antique 1770s European George III Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

19th Century Botanical Engravings of flowers and insects
Located in Seaford, GB
Pair of 19th-century British plant botanicals Engravings with Insects – John Curtis (1791-1862) Sold as a pair -  Please let us know your choice on your purchase order: 1 - Dandeli...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Prints

Materials

Paper

1850 12 Hand Coloured Botanical Plates From the American Practice of Medicine
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A collection of 12 mid-19th century hand colured engravings of botanical specimens from the American Practice of Medicine, 1850 Each has been professionally mounted and framed in a ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Victorian Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Set of 16 Original Antique Botanical Prints - Trees. C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 16 botanical prints Lithographs after the original botanical drawings by Hooker. Original color Published, circa 1850 Unframed. The measurement given is for one...
Category

Antique 1850s English Early Victorian Prints

Materials

Paper

19th Century Hand Tinted Botanical Lithographs - 12 Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand tinted botanical lithographs. Framed and matted with linen. Four individual lithographs within one frame. 12 available.
Category

Antique 19th Century English Neoclassical Prints

Materials

Linen, Wood, Paper

Set of Six English 19th Century Botanical Engravings, England, C.1880
Located in London, GB
A set of six English 19th century Botanical Engravings, England C.1880. Mounted, ready to be framed. Fine examples, in excellent condition commensurate of age.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Prints

Materials

Paper