1834 Folio Stipple-Engraving of Shells, Kiener Coquilles Vivantes TROQUE Pl. 33

Description: 1834 Exquisite, Scarce, Large-Paper Edition, Hand-Colored Seashell Stipple Engraving from Kiener's SPÉCIES GÉNÉRAL ET ICONOGRAPHIE DES COQUILLES VIVANTES Par L. C. KIENER TROQUE (Trochus) Pl. 33 I'm listing a series of seven large, folio-sized shell engravings. This large, exquisitely detailed engraving comes from one of the most beautiful shell books ever made: Spécies Général et Iconographie des Coquilles Vivantes.I'm not certain of the origins of these very unusual large-paper versions of what are usually seen as octavo bookplates, per some other listings from this work I've posted. Perhaps these were for a deluxe, folio version of the volumes, or perhaps they were proof-plates done on large paper.In any case, they are remarkable, I've not seen any this size before nor since. Their size makes them especially grand for framed wall art. The Author: Louis Charles Kiener (31 July 1799 – 24 July 1881) was a French malacologist born in Paris.He was the author of the 12-volume Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes. As a naturalist & conchologist, Kiener named & described numerous species of molluscs. The Artist: The listed name on this print is 'Vaillant pinx.'. I'm unable to find info on this Vaillant, likely he's not the François Levaillant (born Vaillant, later in life as Le Vaillant, "The Valiant") (6 August 1753 – 22 November 1824) who was a French author, explorer, naturalist, zoological collector, travel writer, and noted ornithologist. The Volumes:Full title of this work is Spécies Général et Iconographie des Coquilles Vivantes, comprenant la collection du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris, la collection Lamarck, celle du Prince Masséna et les découvertes récentes des Voyageurs (Translation: General Species and Iconography of Living Shells, including the collection of the Natural History Museum of Paris, the Lamarck collection, that of Prince Masséna and the recent discoveries of the Voyagers). Produced in Paris between 1834 & 1879, in 11 volumes (bound in 12).Kiener made use of the famous Delessert collection and that of the Natural History Museum of Paris, together the largest and most varied fund of conchological material on the continent. "He soon put it to good use; and in 1834 he published the first part of his 'Spécies .' This exquisitely illustrated iconography, started before the Sowerby and Reeve began to issue theirs, appeared at intervals up to 1879, when eleven volumes had been completed. The Technique: Hand colored stipple engraving.The printing method, called 'Intaglio', is similar to the way etchings are made, but requires consummate craft of a master metalworker who engraves every line & shading into the metal with a sharp steel point, faithfully following the original watercolor painting which the plate is to reproduce. Usually the metal was copper, but using much harder steel allows finer detail.It's a process which could take many months for one plate. Once complete, ink is rubbed into the incised & stipples, while the rest of the plate is wiped clean, leaving only the engraved depressions inked.The plate is then run through a hand-cranked press, together with the sheet of paper to be printed, between rollers under high pressure. The paper is forced into the engraved lines to pick up the ink in each fine groove, transferring ink to paper, resulting in a reproduced image of unparalleled precision & clarity.Needless to say, every part of these prints was made by hand: Hand drawn & engraved on hand-mined, smelted & rolled copper, printed onto handmade cotton rag paper, inked & colored with hand-ground pigments. About These Gorgeous Creatures:Trochus is a genus of medium-to large-sized, top-shaped sea snails with an operculum, of the family Trochidae, the top snails.They have extremely high-spired shells with numerous whorls; their common name refers to the resemblance of their shells to rock-drill bits.More than 400 species are recently known worldwide.Sea snails in the genus Trochus have large, thick, solid shells that have a broadly conical spire and a flat to convex base. The periphery is angulated. The outer and basal lips are smooth within. The columella has a strong fold above, ending in an obtuse tooth below.The interior of the shell is pearly and iridescent because of a thick layer of nacre (mother of pearl) Condition: These appear to be in generally good condition with some age-toning to the paper & other character typical of prints this age. Some have some minor staining, some are near pristine. The detail & hand-coloring remains sharp & beautiful as the day it was printed. Quite glorious to my eye.These prints are very old & may have typical minor imperfections expected with age & the handmade paper & technique, artifacts from having been bound into volumes, etc. Please examine the photos & details carefully.Dimensions: Approximately 13-1/4 by 10-1/4 inches Text Page(s): I don't possess the text page(s) for these. Included in the photos is a scan of title page from one of the volumes for reference which is not part of the listing. Shipping: This one will go in a medium flat-rate box with stiffeners. Additional prints can be combined at no extra shipping cost. In case eBay charges additional shipping for additional prints, we will reimburse & credit any shipping overages through eBay. Thanks for Visiting!

Price: 99 USD

Location: Great Barrington, Massachusetts

End Time: 2024-07-24T23:39:58.000Z

Shipping Cost: 15 USD