"Strange forms, resplendent colours, kinds unnumber'd, with saws, swords,
spiral horns, or crooked fangs" from the frontispiece of an 1842 volume.
These hand colored copper plate prints from "The Naturalists Library"
edited by Sir William Jardine (1800-1874) were published between 1839 and
1854. The Naturalists Library contained forty volumes on mammals, birds,
reptiles, insects, and fish (six volumes). Each book was written by experts in
the field and the engraving done by William Home Lizars (1788-1859). Lizars
was the preeminent engraver in Edinburgh at the time and also did work on
Audubons "Birds of America".
The style of depiction, showing the fish out of water with greatly detailed
scenes in the background of the fishes natural habitat, was much favored by
the artists of the Naturalists Library. This style had its origins in the
illustrations of eighteenth century Dutch Naturalist Francois Valentijn. Art
historian Claus Nissen writes in Beautiful Fish Books (Germany 1951), "The
circle around Jardine in Edinburgh strove for liveliness of depiction and high
quality of reproduction including the environment of every animal. The
illustrators of the Naturalists Library solved this difficult task in relation to
fish by making them giant sized and placing them into realistically outlined
landscape scenes. A solution which is only satisfactory when executed by a
virtuosic draughtsman."
The pinnacle of mid nineteenth century science, illustration, and engraving,
come together here in these prints. Along with painstaking hand coloring they
represent a stunning piece of art and history.
These prints measure approximately 4" by 6.5".
Mesoprion uninotatus
$65.00
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The Dory
$65.00
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Common Perch/Common Basse
$65.00
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Indian Histiophorus
$150.00
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Common Perch
$65.00
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Mesoprion chrysurus
$150.00
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Atlantic Coryphaene
$150.00
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Salmon
$100.00
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Muscles of the Perch
$100.00
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Skeleton of the Perch
$100.00
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Beardless Ophidium
$65.00
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Gymnotus fasciatus
$65.00
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Hawkins Gymnetrus
$65.00
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Glutinous Hag
$65.00
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Gymnotus electricus
$65.00
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Murana
$65.00
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Silvery Hair tail
$65.00
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Belone or Guianensis
$65.00
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Sand Eel
$65.00
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Galvani's Torpedo
$65.00
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