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Description: This extremely rare original old antique print / engraving originates from a collection of unbound engravings, and original drawings. Although this print was not bound in a book, it is part of 'Botanica Pharmaceutica: exhibens plantas officinales quarum nomina in dispensatoriis recensentur; cum iconibus ab auctore aere incisis, et vivo colore expressis ...' - Berolini, 1788. Botanica Pharmaceutica was published in Berlin between 1785-1806. It consisted of 6 volumes with a total of 598 botanical plates. This extremely rare work focuses on plants with medicinal properties. It is not listed in Great Flower Books, De Belder, Blunt or Dunthorne. [Nissen BBI 784. Pritzel 3779] "The drawings are made with considerable care for botanical detail, and with a delicate eye for color and line. If some designs are a little stiff, if the artist proves to be no Ehret or Redouté, he nevertheless communicates an appreciation of a very large variety of nature's forms, and at the same time simple statements now of value to the historical taxonomist" (Hunt).
Artists and Engravers: The artist, engraver and possibly colourer of this print is Andreas Friedrich Happe (1733 - 1802), who was an apothecary, artist and engraver from Berlin, Germany. Happe worked for the Berlin Academy of Sciences and published several botanical en endomological works (a.o. Botanica pharmaceutica, Berlin 1785; Flora depicta, Berlin 1791). He also illustrated the first volumes of Martini's 'Conchylien-Cabinet'. Much of his work remained unpublished including the 6-volume: 'Naturgeschichte der Insekten' and watercolours that are currently in the British Museum and the large collection 'Flora Happiana' in the Hunt Institute, Pittsburgh PA.
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Subject: Plate 379: Orchis bifolia - Platanthera bifolia - Lesser Butterfly-orchid. We carry several plates from this extremely rare work and also a few original drawings. Inquire if interested.
Condition: Excellent. General age related toning. Occasional staining from handling or dust in margins. Carefully review scan as the condition can be seen clearly. Occasional small tears in paper edge not effecting image.
Size (in cm): The overall size is ca. 24 x 39.5 cm. The image size is ca. 9.5 x 30.5 cm.
Size (in inch): The overall size is ca. 9.4 x 15.6 inch. The image size is ca. 3.7 x 12 inch.
Medium: Original copperplate etching on verge type hand laid paper with watermark. Contemporary / old hand coloring.
Location: A192-02
SKU: TPC 13490.1
Section: HAPPE-1788
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