1835 Hand-Colored Botanical Engraving | Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) | Plate No. 127

Date: 1835 Publisher: W. Baxter, Botanical Garden, Oxford Title: Thymus Serpyllum (Wild Thyme Plate Number: 127 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 1835 by W. Baxter, Botanical Garden, this original hand-colored botanical engraving depicts Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum), a cherished flowering herb long admired for both its ornamental beauty and culinary associations. The plate was illustrated by I. Russell and engraved by C. Mathews, reflecting 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 delicate clusters of soft pink blossoms rising from creeping stems, accompanied by detailed botanical studies of the flower and foliage. The original hand coloring remains attractive and well preserved, highlighting the graceful character of this beloved herb. Condition: Very Good. Plate mark visible. Colors remains well preserved. Size: 5 1/4” x 8 1/2” A lovely nineteenth-century botanical engraving, beautifully suited for framing and display, particularly for herb gardeners, culinary enthusiasts, and collectors of botanical art.