[Butterfly - Watercolor Album]&
[ANONYMOUS]
circa 1700. 8vo (19.9 X 16.4 cm). There are 40 (39 leaves plus a half page clued to stub at rear of book) un-numbered pages of watercolor drawings. The total number of watercolor images on these 40 pages is 101. The German and Latin name is written in ink, often at the bottom of the page outside the single ink border. There are ten (10) butterflies without any name written. These 10 butterflies are illustrated on 4 separate pages. On one page there are two images, one colored and one pen and ink. Careful inspection of the pen and ink drawing reveals that the artist first made a pencil drawing then outlined in ink. After this was done the coloring was added, as seen from the completed watercolor. Beside the 101 butterflies there are 55 combined images of caterpillars and chrysalis. Thus, the major life cycle for many of the illustrated butterflies is shown. Great detail and excellent coloring is present for the caterpillars, chrysalis and butterflies. There is some minor foxing and spotting on some of the pages. A few of the paintings have been coated with egg albumen. The last page of butterflies is an engraved print which has been hand colored. Provenance: There is a brief description in German on the back paste down page: "39 Taf. mit- 20 Darstell... i Org(?). Aquarellen" Numbers are written in the upper corner above the text: "2/91/17zzz(?)" This scarce 18th century watercolor album of butterflies is extra-ordinary in detail and illustration. Very Good Original Wraps (Item ID: 000039)
$8,000.00