Description: This original handcolored copperplate engraving illustrates four species of amphibious or aquatic eels and snake-like creatures in dynamic poses. It is part of Friedrich Johann Bertuch’s Bilderbuch für Kinder (Picture Book for Children), a celebrated 12-volume natural history encyclopedia published between 1790 and 1830. The detailed depictions emphasize the anatomical and behavioral diversity of these creatures, blending scientific precision with artistic finesse.
The engraving features: 1. A creature resembling the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla), noted for its elongated, smooth body and narrow head. 2. A snake-like creature with yellow markings, possibly a Yellow-Spotted Water Snake (Hydrodynastes gigas). 3. A coiled species resembling a Caecilian, a limbless amphibian commonly found in tropical regions. 4. A unique species with a broad, bulbous head, likely a South American Lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa), known for its ability to breathe air.
This rare engraving is a valuable addition to collections of antique zoological illustrations, natural history art, or educational prints.
Condition Report Good condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, no text on verso. Colors remain vivid. Please review images carefully.
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.