Date of Printing: 1800 • Medium: Copperplate Engraving (hand colored) • Subject Category: Natural History - Birds • Signed: Plate signed, Lower Left • Period Created: Romantic (1800 - 1899) • Plate Size HxWxD cm: 35 x 24.6 • Leaf Paper Size HxW cm: 50 x 34 • Style: FOLIO Original Vintage • Print on Verso: Blank on verso • Condition: Very Good, slight foxing and toning in margins • Edition Type: 1st Edition - Limited • Paper Type: Woven • Framed: Print only
Beautiful Falcon (Falco Lagopus), from "Teutsche Ornithologie Oder Naturgeschichte Aller Vogel Teutschlands." Author/Artist Johann Conrad Susemihl, published in 1800. Numbered Copper engraving. Beautiful original hand coloring. Names in Latin and German. - First Edition RARE Large Paper. Condition of print is Very Good, however far margins at right are slightly frayed. Please see photos. Toning does not affect image in plate, and would be unnoticable when matted.
Johann Conrad Susemihl (Rainrod 1767 - Oberhessen 1847).
We are pleased to be able to offer a selection of rarely seen prints from the first edition of "Teutsche Ornithologie", published in Darmstadt in 1800: a fine and rare large copy of one of the most splendid German work on birds. It was published in 22 parts with 126 hand-coloured engraved plates.
. "... a work by which it was attempted to create a German parallel to the sumptuous ornithological works of other countries, notably of France, e.g. Levaillant's works, to which it was compared at that time ... and with which it is quite comparable on account of its beautiful plates. These were drawn, engraved, printed, and coloured, by Susemihl in co-operation with his brother, J.Th. Susemihl, and lateron his son, Eduard Susemihl" (Anker 52).
Susemihl utilized a team of ornithologists from Darmstadt to draw his subjects, often drawn true to life size. He directed and executed the drawing, etching, engraving and hand-coloring for Teutsche Ornithologie. The birds depicted are very large and the birds of prey fill the page in their unique magnificence, the detail of their plumage superbly rendered in these copper engravings.
"Nicht minder lobenswert ist auch die 'Teutsche Ornithologie', die Johann Conrad Susemihl gemeinsam mit seinem Bruder Johann Theodor und später mit seinen Kindern Eduard und Emilie in Darmstadt mit Hilfe eines Kreises begeisterter Naturfreunde schulf... die Tafeln, die in Stich wie Kolorit zu den Spitzenleistungen des späten Kupferstiches gehören... (Nissen p. 53).
Each print is folio in size, with ample margins and was printed on strong ”Blawu” paper, still in excellent condition, some with water marks. Remarkable in particular is the fine ORIGINAL hand colouring.
Bibliography Reference: Nissen IVB 907; Zimmer, p.81