• Title : Ophidium Barbatum; Ophidium Aculeatum
• Ref  :  23497
• Size: 18in x 11in (460mm x 280mm)
• Date : 1785
• Condition: (A+) Fine Condition

Description:
This superbly hand coloured original antiquefish print of Ophidium Barbatum & Ophidium Aculeatum was published in the  the first folio edition of "Ichthyologie, Ou Histoire Naturelle, Generale Et Particulière, Des Poissons, published by Mark Bloch (1723-99),  in both Paris and Berlin between 1785-97.

The drawings were primarily done by Johan Friedrich August Krueger and Johan Friedrich Henning. What makes these prints stand out from most of the period and later, is not just the superb detail to the engraving but the attention spent on the hand coloring.

A monumental and beautiful work that continued to be a primary reference for the naturalists into the 19th century and is still admired today for its sumptuous illustrations. The plates reproduce the bright natural coloring of the fish, some of which were heightened with gold, silver or bronze to imitate the metallic sheen of scales. (Ref: Nissen, Schöne Fischbücher)

General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Pink, yellow, green
General color appearance: - Beautiful 
Paper size: - 18in x 11in (460mm x 280mm)
Plate size: - 15in x 8in (380mm x 205mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)

Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - None
Verso: - None