Antique Handcolored Engraving of Beaver and Webbed Appendages, Quadruped VIII, c.1800
Description: This original handcolored copperplate engraving illustrates a beaver (*Castor fiber* or *Castor canadensis*) and detailed depictions of its webbed appendages. The plate is part of Friedrich Johann Bertuch’s *Bilderbuch für Kinder* (Picture Book for Children), a celebrated 12-volume encyclopedia published between 1790 and 1830, renowned for its combination of artistic elegance and educational content.
The engraving highlights: 1. A detailed profile of a beaver, showcasing its iconic flattened tail, dense fur, and robust build. 2. Close-up illustrations of its webbed hind foot (Fig. 1) and clawed front paw (Fig. 2), emphasizing adaptations for swimming and building.
This vivid depiction of the beaver’s anatomy and ecological characteristics serves as an excellent example of 19th-century zoological illustration. It is a valuable addition to collections of natural history art, antique prints, or educational materials.
Condition Report: Good condition. General age-related toning, minor edge wear, no text on verso. Colors remain bright and well preserved. 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.