Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

Fluttering Gems: Portraits of the Chalk Hill Blue, Brown Argus, Grizzled Skipper

$182.12per item
$227.65per item20% Off
£135.55per item
£169.44per item20% Off
€152per item
€190per item20% Off
CA$249.46per item
CA$311.82per item20% Off
A$277.45per item
A$346.81per item20% Off
CHF 144.88per item
CHF 181.09per item20% Off
MX$3,376.26per item
MX$4,220.33per item20% Off
NOK 1,850.28per item
NOK 2,312.85per item20% Off
SEK 1,735.24per item
SEK 2,169.05per item20% Off
DKK 1,157.12per item
DKK 1,446.40per item20% Off
Quantity
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Original antique prints of butterflies, published in the 19th century. These original plates coloured by hand are from the sixth edition of the publication with title: 'A History of British Butterflies' by Morris. Published in London in 1890. These hand-colored plates feature the following butterfly species: 1. **Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon):** The Chalk Hill Blue is distinguishable by its powdery blue wings with black and white borders. It's predominantly found in the chalk downlands of southern England. Males are bright blue, while females are brown with blue dusting near the body. The species is interesting due to its specialized habitat requirements, with caterpillars that feed on horseshoe vetch, and it's a subject of conservation efforts. 2. **Brown Argus (Aricia agestis):** The Brown Argus is a small butterfly with brown upper wings marked with orange spots near the edges. Unlike other 'blues', neither sex has blue coloring. It's adaptable to various habitats and has expanded its range recently. The presence of the Brown Argus is an indicator of the health of the local ecosystem. 3. **Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae):** This small butterfly has a distinctive pattern of white spots on a dark, charcoal-colored background. They can be found in chalk grassland, woodland clearings, or any open, sunny place with sparse vegetation. The caterpillars feed on various plants, including wild strawberries. What makes the Grizzled Skipper interesting is its rapid and darting flight pattern and the checkerboard pattern on its wings, which make it quite recognizable. The documentation of these butterflies in such publications from the 19th century is crucial for understanding historical distributions and changes over time in butterfly populations. These plates serve as both scientific records and works of art, providing valuable insights into the biological diversity and ecological significance of British butterflies during that period.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 10.01 in (25.4 cm)Width: 6.82 in (17.3 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1890
  • Condition:
    Condition: Good given age, general age-related toning. Some small spots.. Please study scan carefully.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-13260-64, BG-13260-65, BG-13260-661stDibs: LU3054338980182

More From This Seller

View All
British Handcolored Lepidoptera: Treasures from A History of British Butterflies
Located in Langweer, NL
The hand-colored plates from the sixth edition of "A History of British Butterflies" by Morris are exquisite examples of Victorian natural history illustration. Here's a description ...
Category

Antique 1890s Prints

Materials

Paper

Metamorphosis in Repose: A Trio of Butterfly Lifecycles
Located in Langweer, NL
The original antique and hand-colored butterflies prints are a fascinating selection from the British Isles, each with distinctive features: 1. **Chequered White (Selenia tetralunar...
Category

Antique 1890s Prints

Materials

Paper

Metamorphosis in Repose: A Trio of Butterfly Lifecycles
$182 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Free Shipping
Winged Jewels of the Victorian Era: Hand-Colored Butterfly Masterpieces, 1890
Located in Langweer, NL
The three butterfly species depicted in the original hand-colored plates from the sixth edition of "A History of British Butterflies" by Morris, published in 1890, are a fascinating ...
Category

Antique 1890s Prints

Materials

Paper

Chromatic Splendor: The Copper, Argus, and Blue of Morris's 1890 Lepidoptera
Located in Langweer, NL
Beautiful hand-colored antique prints of butterflies. They are from a work by Morris, published in 1890. The butterflies from these plates are known for their distinct appearances a...
Category

Antique 1890s Prints

Materials

Paper

Victorian Era British Lepidoptera: A Hand-Colored Legacy, 1890
Located in Langweer, NL
The butterflies depicted in the plates are special, both historically in the context of British lepidopterology and scientifically in terms of their morphology and behavior. 1. **Arran Brown (Erebia ligea)** - The image labeled "22" likely depicts what is commonly known as the Arran Brown, previously known as Arran Argus. It's a species that prefers grassy habitats and flies low to the ground. These butterflies have brown wings with eye-like spots on the upper side, which can confuse predators into attacking the wrong part of the body. 2. **Scotch Argus (Erebia aethiops)** - The image labeled "23" seems to represent the Scotch Argus. This butterfly has dark brown wings with orange bands containing black spots, each centered with a tiny white dot. It is commonly found in damp grassy areas and is especially interesting due to its limited distribution, being primarily found in Scotland and parts of Northern England. 3. **Small Ringlet (Erebia cothurnatus)** - The image labeled "24" probably shows the Small Ringlet, which in some texts may be referred to as Small Mountain Ringlet or Small Heath...
Category

Antique 1890s Prints

Materials

Paper

Victorian Era British Lepidoptera: A Hand-Colored Legacy, 1890
$182 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Free Shipping
Whispers of Wings: A Butterfly Triptych Collage, 1890
Located in Langweer, NL
The butterflies presented in these hand-colored plates from the 1890 edition of 'A History of British Butterflies' by Morris include: 1. **Large Meadow Brown (likely Maniola jurtina...
Category

Antique 1890s Prints

Materials

Paper

Whispers of Wings: A Butterfly Triptych Collage, 1890
$182 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Free Shipping

You May Also Like

Antique Albertus Seba Pair 18th Century Hand-Colored Engravings Butterfly
By Albertus Seba 1
Located in Washington, DC
Rare pair of original hand-colored prints from Sir Albertus Seba's cabinet of natural curiosities. Prints come from published volumes in Amste...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century Dutch Prints

Materials

Paper

Original Vintage Print of Butterflies. French, C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of butterflies Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Chromo-lithograph Published, C.1920 Free shipping.
Category

Vintage 1920s French Folk Art Prints

Materials

Paper

Butterflies, late 19th century antique natural history colour lithograph
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'1. Hestia idea 2. Ideopsis daos' Late 19th century colour lithograph of butterflies.
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Original Antique Print of Butterflies, 1847, Unframed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image of butterflies. Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using your own choice of frames. Lithograph after Cpt. brown with original hand color. Pub...
Category

Antique 1840s English Folk Art Prints

Materials

Paper

Butterflies, late 19th century antique natural history colour lithograph
Located in Melbourne, Victoria
'1. Cynthia juliana 2. Anartia amalthea 3. Junonia orthosia' Late 19th century colour lithograph of butterflies.
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Species of Butterflies with frame - 1980
Located in Roma, IT
Three species of stuffed butterflies : Appias Drusilla, Graphium doson, Troides Helena. Dedication on the back with the date 8 November 1980. 39 x...
Category

Vintage 1980s Italian Modern Picture Frames

Materials

Animal Skin