Old engraving from 1904 - Birds in breeding plumage - illustration

Magnificent authentic engraving 121 years old, not a mere reproduction. Subject: Birds in wedding attire. • Edition: between 1902 and 1907. • Size: 15.5 X 24.5 cm. • Elegant vintage cream-white paper. • Text in German. • Condition: very good. This illustration comes from a large German encyclopedia, blending scholarly texts, maps, and detailed engravings, reflecting the intellectual and editorial rigor of its time. Authentic and original, it bears witness to the encyclopaedic ambition to encompass all human knowledge. A true mirror of the world before the First World War, this work combines rigor, elegance, and pedagogical clarity, making each volume a valuable testimony to the history of knowledge. The illustration features a collection of birds adorned in their finest nuptial plumage. Various species are observed in vibrant colours, some displaying bright hues like red, blue, and orange, while others exhibit striped or spotted patterns. The composition shows the birds in different postures, perched on branches or on the ground, highlighting the diversity of avian courtship displays. • Find all my lithographs and prints in my shop. • Send me a message for any questions. • Fast delivery and careful packaging for a risk-free reception. • For bulk purchases, send me a message for a single shipping fee and to discuss a discount. Reference: 112-1-24. Texts inscribed on the engraving: Translation: Wedding attire I. Fig 1 a b Icelandic snipe bellbird Fig 2 a b Red-headed avocet Fig 3 a b Danish nutcracker strangler Fig 4 a b Reed warbler torquatus Fig 5 Wheatear Oenanthe Fig 6 Yellow bunting Emberiza citrinella Fig 7 a b Tree sparrow Fig 8 a b Crested tit Fig 9 a b Reed wren with inflated gular sac and spread tail Fig 10 a b Common serin companion of man. --- Decoration, vintage, species, avian, ornithology, reproduction, display. Birds, plumage, nuptial. This plate presents a typical scientific naturalist style of 19th-century German encyclopedias. The illustration combines ornithological precision with decorative aesthetics, featuring bright and realistic colours applied to the engraving. The faithful rendering of plumages and the balanced composition reflect the tradition of European natural history plates of that era.