Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

Flying Squirrel & Blue-Tail Lizard – Catesby Natural History c.1771

$1,423.34per set
$1,779.17per set20% Off
£1,061.16per set
£1,326.45per set20% Off
€1,200per set
€1,500per set20% Off
CA$1,954.74per set
CA$2,443.43per set20% Off
A$2,187.74per set
A$2,734.68per set20% Off
CHF 1,142.34per set
CHF 1,427.93per set20% Off
MX$26,690.59per set
MX$33,363.23per set20% Off
NOK 14,500.55per set
NOK 18,125.68per set20% Off
SEK 13,760.13per set
SEK 17,200.16per set20% Off
DKK 9,140.25per set
DKK 11,425.32per set20% Off
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Flying Squirrel & Blue-Tail Lizard – Catesby’s Natural History Prints c.1777 This set of two antique prints features the work of renowned English naturalist Mark Catesby, known for his groundbreaking documentation of the plants and animals of North America. These illustrations are from his monumental work Piscium, serpentum, insectorum, aliorumque nonnullorum animalium nec non plantarum quarundam imagines, published in the early 18th century. The first print, titled Sciurus volans, Guajacana, shows a flying squirrel perched among the branches of a native tree. The animal’s stretched limbs and delicate wing-like membrane are illustrated with characteristic grace and anatomical precision. It is accompanied by a botanical specimen bearing small fruit and glossy green leaves. The second print, Lacertus cauda coerulea, Anona fructa viridi loevi Pyri inversi forma, features a blue-tailed lizard shown resting on the branch of a tropical plant bearing fruit resembling inverted pears (Anona species). The bold colouring and clean composition reflect Catesby’s desire to depict animals in their natural environments alongside the plants they inhabit. Mark Catesby (1683–1749) was one of the first naturalists to combine both flora and fauna in single compositions, an innovative practice that influenced future scientific illustrators including Linnaeus. His fieldwork across the American colonies and the Bahamas resulted in some of the earliest and most accurate records of species never before seen by European audiences. His work is highly regarded for its scientific value and its charm as decorative art. These engravings were produced using copperplate engraving with original hand-colouring – a technique that ensured fine detail and vibrant naturalistic hues. Condition summary: Very good condition with clean impressions and rich hand colouring. Slight age-toning and faint foxing near the edges, but no tears or repairs. The paper is strong and stable. Framing tips: These two prints work beautifully as a pair. Use matching cream mounts and classic gold or dark wooden frames. UV-protective glass is recommended to preserve the colours and fine engraving detail.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.69 in (50 cm)Width: 13.59 in (34.5 cm)Depth: 0.02 in (0.5 mm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Paper,Engraved
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1771
  • Condition:
    Condition summary: Very good condition with clean impressions and rich hand colouring. Slight age-toning and faint foxing near the edges, but no tears or repairs. The paper is strong and stable.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-12512-64 & BG-12512-651stDibs: LU3054319952322

More From This Seller

View All
Vintage Vistas: Original Hand-Colored Engravings of The Flying Squirrels of 1762
Located in Langweer, NL
The hand-colored engraving depicts two flying squirrels, one in motion with its limbs extended and patagium (gliding membranes) visible, and the other in a crouched position on the g...
Category

Antique 1760s German Prints

Materials

Paper

Hand-Colored Engraving of Hummingbirds and Dormouse by Seligmann, ca.1770
Located in Langweer, NL
Title: Der Kolibri mit rother Brust, der Kolibri mit grüner Brust, und der Siebenschläfer - Hand-Colored Engraving of Hummingbirds and Dormouse by Johann Michael Seligmann, 18th Cent...
Category

Antique 1770s Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of Didelphis species 'Opossum', Flying Squirrel and More
Located in Langweer, NL
Original antique print of Didelphis species, a genus of New World marsupials. This print originates from 'Bilderbuch fur Kinder' by F.J. Bertuch. Friedrich Johann Bertuch (1747-1822)...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Antique Bird Print of the Lyrebird and Tailorbird by Bertuch 'circa 1800'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print of the Lyrebird (Manura) and Tailorbird. This print originates from 'Bilderbuch für Kinder' by F.J. Bertuch.
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Prints

Materials

Paper

Set of 2 Hand Colored Antique Bird Prints of Parakeet Species, c.1785
Located in Langweer, NL
Set of two antique bird prints titled 'Little Green and Red Long-Tailed Parroquet - Long-Tailed Parroquet'. These prints shown various parakeet species. Originates from 'A New Dictio...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English Prints

Materials

Paper

The Long-tailed African Finch and Blue Butterfly Original Old Handcoloring, 1749
Located in Langweer, NL
This hand-colored engraving, part of Johann Michael Seligmann's collection, is a precise and vibrant representation of wildlife, based on the works of George Edwards. It showcases an...
Category

Antique 1740s Prints

Materials

Paper

You May Also Like

Set of Two Rare Botanical Engravings by D’Orbigny — 1849
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Set of Two Rare Botanical Engravings by D’Orbigny — Dictionnaire Universel d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 1849 An exquisite pair of original hand-colored botanical engravings from the...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

Flying Squirrels: An Original Audubon Hand-colored Lithograph
By John James Audubon
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original John James Audubon hand colored lithograph entitled "Severn River Flying Squirrel & Rocky Mountain Flying Squirrel", No. 29, P...
Category

Mid-19th Century Naturalistic Animal Prints

Materials

Lithograph

Pangolin, Panther & Insects – Original Antique Zoological Print, circa 1849
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Pangolin, Panther & Insects – Original Antique Zoological Print, circa 1849 Dict. Univ. d’Hist. Nat., Plate 431 Description: A captivating original hand-colored zoological engraving...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Prints

Materials

Paper

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

Pair of Antique Framed Hand Colored French Parrot Engraving
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty pair of 18th Century French hand colored engravings of parrots in natural settings as discovered by noted naturalist George Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon. Presented under glass...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Prints

Materials

Giltwood

Pair Of Antique Hand Colored Botanical Prints
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Taken after “La Botanique Mise a la Portee de Tout le Monde”, originally published in Paris 1774-1780, written by Nicolas Francois Regnault and illustrated by his wife, Genevieve de ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Country Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper