PAIR of copper engravings by the early Flemish artist JOHANNES STRADANUS (also known as Johannes van der Straet), born 1523, died 1605. Each measures 8" by 10 1/2" (16" by 18" in identical silvery contemporary frames). One image is titled "Staphae, Sive Stapedes", the other "Ser Sive Sericus Vermis". These works date to about the year 1590 or 1591. They are numbered 8 and 9, part of Nova Reperta, a series of 20 images that illustrated important discoveries of the Renaissance...

Sold together as a group, three early copper engravings on heavy paper, one titled "Deuil D'une Personne Qui Vient de Mourir" (20" by 24" framed), another "Mort. Le Passage de Caron, Le Fleuve du Styx, et les tourmens de L'enfer" (20" by 24" framed) and finally a smaller print, "Sepulcre ou Mausolee" (18" by 12 1/2" framed). The engraver was PIETRO SANTI BARTOLI (1635-1700), a noted Italian engraver, draftsman and painter. Born in Perugia, he studied briefly with the great Poussin...

Fine engraving by Cousen, titled at bottom center "The Woodland Gate", after the original painting by English Royal Academician WILLIAM COLLINS (1788-1847), measuring 8 1/4" by 10 5/8" inside the mat with hand-drawn lines, 16" by 17 1/2" in silvery framing. This is a fine decorative print that is in extremely clean, wall-ready condition. According to information on the internet, Collins' work was prized more highly in the late 19th century than that of Constable and Turner...

A PAIR of copper engravings circa 1766, by noted English entomologist and illustrator/engraver MOSES HARRIS (1731-1785), featuring a number of species of moths of the British Isles, as published in The Aurelian, or a Natural History of English Insects. These both measure 18 1/4" by 14 3/4" as identically framed (20th century simple black wood strip frames). Harris' drawings were displayed at the Royal academy in 1785...

Three engravings, from a set (consecutively numbered in Roman numerals), but separate though loosely framed together, margins for the most part tightly trimmed, each measuring roughly 6 1/2" by 5 1/2". The scenes of the old towns are named in Latin, German, and French. Judging from the architecture, the towers and buildings are certainly from the northern part of Europe, most likely Germany. Artist is undetermined at this point. Some research could reveal that information...

Hand colored stipple engraving botanical print, titled "LONICERA Alpigena", and "CHEVREFEUILLE Alpigene" in French (a type of honeysuckle), after the highly important Belgian-born botanical artist of the late years of the 18th century and early years of the 19th, PIERRE-JOSEPH REDOUTE (1759-1840). The original drawings from which the images derive were created sometime around 1810 and the prints were created not long thereafter...

An English antique line engraving by Taylor, published by Alexander Hogg in "The Antiquities of England and Wales", 1795, the subject given as "View of Lambeth Palace in Surrey". The print measures 7 1/4" by 9 1/4" (and 13 1/2" by 15 1/2" framed). The print looks decidedly antique, the paper with old crinkles, and it is simply laid against a pinkish board. It appears to have been possibly trimmed at bottom. The decorative print is hand colored...

Large fine English antique mid 19th century print of mounted riders in traditional red coats, and their trained hounds, in an extensive landscape, the title "John Josselyn Esq. and the Suffolk Hounds", engraved by Charles Mottram (1807-1876) after the painting by Edward Robert Smythe (1810-1899). The print, mounted long ago to a board, was published circa 1865 by Henry Graves & Co. of Pall Mall...

Two antique prints circa 17th century, matted together, one featuring profiles of a man's head (6 1/2" by 9 1/2"), the other a study of a bare foot and a foot in a sandal (6 1/2" by 4 1/2"), the head profiles, originally drawn by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) for his "Livre de Portraiture", subsequently transferred into engravings, likely by Jan Van Haelbeck (fl. 1600-1630) and published in Paris in 1667 by Francois de Poilly. Carracci's name is at lower left, and de Poilly at lower right...

Fine decorative 19th century engraving print, titled at bottom margin "Philadelphia from Belmont (WEST PARK)", by English-born artist ROBERT HINSHELWOOD (1812-1879). Hinshelwood came to the United States in 1835 as a young man and pursued his art skills, in both painting and engraving. In this case he seems to have engraved after his own original painting---a fairly rare skill combination...

**FOUR** identically framed early (1830) color aquatint engraving prints of classic English sporting art subject, the Grand Leicestershire Steeple Chase, 1829, printed by the noted R. Ackermann Jr. of Regent Street, London. The plates are from a series, though this is not a complete series; the group includes Plate 1, Plate 5, Plate 6, and Plate 7. They all measure 14" by 17 1/4" inside the framing (18 1/2" by 21 1/2" framed). They are antique prints nearly 200 years old, and as such they h...

A fine copper engraving of the year 1596, by the noted Old Master JAN PIETERSZ SAENREDAM (1565-1607), featuring young couples in a festive mood, in a Dutch town at the end of the sixteenth century. The print (Hollstein catalogue raisonne #133) is titled "Feiernde und Tanzende Junge Paare" (roughly, "Celebrating and Dancing Young Couples"). It measures 12" by 15 3/8" inside the present mat and the piece is 18 1/2" by 24 3/4" in the contemporary strip gold framing. It is in remarkable condition...

Two fine engravings of Mount Vernon, and the White House, each framed and measuring 6 3/4" by 8 3/4". These appear to be the same images that have appeared on US currency in the past, and the very high quality type of printing (intaglio?) is the same process. These were produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, either as printing proofs, or perhaps as official souvenirs to be sold in a gift shop setting----the Bureau's name is printed at the bottom of each. The detail is extremely crisp...

A lovely hand colored scene, "City of Providence", engraved by listed American 19th century artist ASA COOLIDGE WARREN (1819-1904) after an apparent painting by artist R. Hinshelwood (see lower right margin for that name). Robert Hinshelwood (1812-1879) came from England circa 1835; he was an engraver, etcher and painter. The panoramic view is from a high point, and some tiny figures in the composition add human interest. Coolidge was apprenticed as an engraver in the Boston area, working fo...

A fine example of the etcher's art---an original etching titled in lower margin "The Smoker", signed in plate at lower left "Meissonier" (and date that looks like 1818), signed again at extreme lower right corner by Paul Adolphe Rajon (1843-1888). This is after a circa 1850's original painting by the important 19th century French painter JEAN-LOUIS-ERNEST-MEISSONIER (1815-1891). Rajon created the etching after the painting, in the 1870's. Meissonier, born in Lyon, was a very well known and so...

This is a decorative, hand colored print, possibly dating to 1784, issued as a plate in "New and Complete British Traveller", titled at bottom "View of Hackney in Middlesex". Presently the print itself measures 6" by 6 3/4" (10 3/4" by 12 3/4" in simple black wood frame). I see from online research that this example seems to have been cut down, with all decorative border areas, and the name of the publisher, Alex Hogg, at the Kings Arms, No. 6 Paternoster Row, trimmed away. The print neverthe...

A scarce botanical mezzotint engraving of the plant species "Caryophyllus gramineus humilis" (carnation), plate No. 330, from Phytanthoza Iconographia, 1737-1745, considered the first important botanical work to use color engraving prints. The work is known for the accuracy and beauty of the prints, which can now bring impressive sums at Sotheby's and Christie's auctions in London. The prints were created by German apothecary and botanist JOHANN WILHELM WEINMANN (1683-1741), now best known pre...

The French fashion and costume magazine "La Mode Illustree" operated from about 1859 through at least the 1920's, featuring the styles of the day. This is a fine engraving, circa 1875 or 1880, judging from the fashion depicted. It is hand colored. Size as framed is 13 1/2" by 9 1/2". The framing though narrow is an interesting design. The print has some overall light browning/aging as would be expected of paper of this age---but it is even and not at all obtrusive. It would make for a plea...