This is not a hand-colored engraving, it is an original, beautifully executed ink and watercolor drawing on watermarked laid—one of four watercolors I purchased from a German seller, which appear all done by the same person, likely c. 1800. Photos do no justice to the real thing. I would guess they were the original drawings after which engravings were then made for a zoological volume. I find it, and all of them, just extraordinarily beautiful, and their amazing detail amplifies the sense of wonder at the creatures represented to begin with. I mean really, what is more exquisite than exotic fish??? Pure pleasure, and even better for the hand-written notes on the reverse of all of them, which seem to speak to the watercolors as being very much part of a work in progress. The notes on the back seem to correspond to the following image in the volume.
10 11/16" x 8 1/4". Ink and watercolor on laid. Very good condition, minor toning/soling, not at all detracting. One clear tear coming up from bottom edge near left, mended on reverse, minor.
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