1816 Arabs, ethnology, imperial folio, 41.5 cm, huge early stone lithograph

Landmark stone lithograph

Extremely rare 

1816 antique hand colored stone lithograph by Carl Joseph Brodtmann from his extremely rare series:

From the scarce large format issue of 1816: 42,5 x 32,5 cm.

Naturhistorische Bilder Gallerie aus dem Thierreiche 

Lindau, Brodtmann [1816].

Here in hand colour.

37.5 x 47.5 cm

Superb plate from this famed ‘incunabula of lithography’. 

Reference Winkler 105.

Brodtmann is considered a pioneer in the art of lithography employing techniques for "texture" that are quite similar to that of an aquatint. He produced his lithographs in the post-Linnaean "'Age of Enlightenment" as books illustrations and sets of natural history prints, as Naturhistorische Bilder Gallerie aus dem Thierreiche, with the more expensive sets being hand coloured. Natural history specimens were depicted and sold in these hand-coloured sets for the use of biologists and the aristocracy, the latter being not only great patrons of the arts and sciences, but including many who were actively interested in fauna and flora.

Extremely scarce. Light even age toning.

Condition: Good overall condition.