1840 Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving | Spring Water-starwort (Callitriche verna) | Plate No. 392

Date: 1840 Publisher: W. Baxter, Botanical Garden, Oxford Title: Callitriche Verna (Spring Water-starwort) Plate Number: 392 An original antique hand-colored botanical plate acquired from a collection sourced at an antiquarian fair. Beautifully detailed and printed on period paper, this botanical illustration captures the artistic elegance characteristic of early botanical works. Published in Oxford in 1840 by W. Baxter, Botanical Garden, this original hand-colored botanical engraving depicts Spring Water-starwort (Callitriche verna), a delicate aquatic plant found in ponds, streams, and wet meadows throughout Britain and Europe. Illustrated and engraved by Mathews, the plate reflects the careful scientific observation and artistic craftsmanship characteristic of nineteenth-century botanical works. Printed from an engraved plate and finished by hand, the illustration features slender stems adorned with finely detailed green foliage, accompanied by enlarged botanical studies highlighting the plant’s reproductive structures. The original hand coloring remains well preserved, showcasing soft sage-green foliage accented by subtle olive and golden tones, creating an elegant and understated composition. Condition: Very Good. Plate mark visible. Colors remain well preserved. Size: 5” x 8 1/2” Well-suited for framing and display in a library, study, garden room, conservatory, or gallery wall. A lovely addition for collectors of natural history, botanical art, and antique prints.