Dark Moray, Marbled Swamp Eel
7 3/4 by 9 3/4 inches
BHR48 $65
We are currently offering a selection of prints from a fragment of F. J. Bertuchs Bilderbuch für Kinder, a large picture atlas for school & home. This is another Bilder Buche in the wonderful tradition of German children's books & similar to the Hanselmann & Schubert that have been such favorites. We seek these prints out in Europe, as they are a charming window into a bygone era. As Bilder Books go, this one probably tops them all, as it was a massive work in 12 volumes, published from 1790 to 1810 with about 1,187 prints of a wonderfully comprehensive & eclectic nature.
Bertuch was the son of a physician & he became an orphan early on. After studying first theology and then law in Jena, he later became a successful publisher in Weimar, Germany & the largest employer in the town. The work derives from some of the great figures of the times including Bloch, Jablonsky, Merian, Esper, Ellis and many more.
Each plate has the ORIGINAL hand coloring on strong paper, chain lined watermarked paper in the early years, wove later on. The paper does vary in color somewhat from the early paper with a grayish hue to soft white later one, with an occasional print being on a slightly darker paper. ALL our prints are original antiques, and are guaranteed to be the stated age. A copy of the title page and the original descriptive text accompanies each print. These prints are 235 years old.
