1816 Bengal Tiger, Imp. Folio 'Incunabula of Lithography' Hand Color - Mammal

Landmark stone lithograph of large size and issued in the ‘Incunabula’ period of stone lithography prior to 1820.

Print on fine Ziegler paper.

Extremely rare.

Hand colored stone lithograph by Carl Joseph Brodtmann from his extremely rare series: Naturhistorische Bilder Gallerie aus dem Thierreiche Lindau, Brodtmann [1816].

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 book illustrations and sets of natural history prints, as “Naturhistorische Bilder Gallerie aus dem Thierreiche”, with the more expensive sets being hand colored. 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.

Condition: Excellent condition. Wear consistent with age and use. As this was produced from a stone lithograph, items from this first imperial folio edition are rarely found in good condition has here.