Antique Prints of Citrus Fruits: Lemons, Oranges and Grapefruits.

Antique Prints of Citrus Fruits

Nuremberg Hesperides, 1708-1714 by Johann Volckamer

Just look and enjoy the splendor of these leaves: copper engravings in magnificent color of citrus fruit and blossoms, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, whole and cut open, and all of them richly hanging in the sky over landscapes, architecture, gardens which Volckamer, a publisher at Nuremberg, placed in and around his city of Nuremberg and, in the "Continuation" after the Nuremberg sites, palazzi, country houses and gardens in northern Italy, mostly the area of Verona (titles indicate the name of the chateau, garden or town). Some of these extremely rare as well as uniquely decorative prints were engraved by Paulus Decker the Elder, L.C Glotsch, B. Kenckel, C.F. Krieger, J. A. Montalegre, W. Pfan, and J.C. Steinberger. The preparatory work for this comprehensive work goes back to 1695.

In the less benign climate of central Europe, where winters could be quite severe, it had become fashionable among the aristocracy and also among well-to-be burgers to create "orangeries" in their private parks, greenhouses, tall enough to house even palmtrees in the wintertime. the frost-endangered citrus plants were wheeled out for the summer and back into the greenhouse late in fall to hybernate in a climate artificially created by heating. It was a longing for warmth and the Mediterranean which people craved in the North. And J. Volckamer created exactly the stuff, that dreams of this kind are made of.

Volckamer, Johann Christoph: "Nurembergische Hesperides, oder gruendliche Beschreibung der edelen Citronat-, Citronen und Pomeranzen-Fruechte, wie solche in selbiger und benachbarten Gegend, recht mögen eingesetzt, gewartet, erhalten und fortgebracht werden.Sampt einer ausführlichen Erzehlung der meisten Sorten, welche theils zu Nürnberg würcklich gewachsen, theils von verschiedenen fremden Orten dahin gebracht worden..." und "Continuation der Nürnbergischen Hesperidum, oder fernere gründliche Beschreibung...."

Folio average 34 x 21.5 cm (13.39 x 8.46") Nuremberg, 1708-14. Some light spotting is normal. All have light age toning. Left margins are narrow. Paper is lightly uneven.

Terms of sale - Lieferbedingungen

Cedro Grosso Bondolotto

Nürnberg

Print has a few scattered spots above Nürnberg. Some very light creasing in upper and lower margins.

$ 1400.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES 55114 SOLD

Limea aranzata

In Herrn Dr. Falkners Garten.
Print has crease in lower margin. Narrow left margin.

$1000.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES55164b SOLD

Schweinau in Franconia

Clean print with fine coloring.

$520.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES 55220b

Grossreuth

A few scattered spots in image.
Margins have some smudging and spotting.
Minor creases in lower margin.

$ 460.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES 55220a

Gruendlach (in Franconia)

A few minor creases. Narrow left margin.

$ 450.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES5216

Fuerth

Pistaccia

Light creases in margins. Minor smudging and spotting in margins.

$ 900.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES5242

Coco Nuss

The scene below the coconut is in Africa.

$ 950.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES55231

Aufgeschnittne Coccus Nuss.

Vornehmer Herrn Trag-Sessel zu Peking in Sina.

Honored man being carried in a special chair in Peking.

Engraved by Ios. Montalegre.

$ 1200.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES55232

Copper etching by Joseph a Montalegre for Johann Christoph Volckamer's “Nuernbergische Hesperiden", Nuremberg 1708 - 1714. Very rare double-size print. Fine recent hand coloring.

Plate II. The fruit and part of the plant rising giantly from a harbor with a lifely ship- and boat staffage. A fortress and a town at the foot of a mountain. A tarantula??? feasting on a bird in upper left corner.

The print was conceived as a folding print, its large folio size having to fit the book size. The folds are visible, but hardly disturbing as the powerful image draws all attention of the beholder.

Condition is basically very good. Some minor spotting is hardly worth mentioning. On left side a well repaired tear.

41 x 33.8 cm (16.1 x 13.3").

$ 2950.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES 55218

No title. Pineapple.

Copper etching by Johann Adam Delsenbach (1687 - 1765) for Johann Christoph Volckamer's “Nuernbergische Hesperiden", Nuernberg 1708 - 1714. Very rare double-size print. Fine recent hand coloring.

Plate I. The fruit and part of the plant rising giantly from a subtropical landscape staffage with natives using bow and arrow, a hilltop house and a boat on a river. A hummingbird and very decorative bugs complete the picture.

The print was conceived as a folding print, its large folio size having to fit the book size. The folds are visible, but hardly disturbing as the powerful image draws all attention of the beholder.

Some foxing in lower margin. An insignificant spot near one of the bugs. On left side a well restored tear.

45.8 x 31.8 cm (18 x 12.5")

$ 2950.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES 55217

No title. Pineapple.

Copper etching by Joseph a Montalegre for Johann Christoph Volckamer's “Nuernbergische Hesperiden", Nuremberg 1708 - 1714. Very rare double-size print. Fine recent hand coloring.

Plate IV. Cut open pineapple fruit rising giantly from the sea with a very rich maritime staffage. Background: a village.

The print was conceived as a folding print, its large folio size having to fit the book size. The folds are visible, but hardly disturbing as the powerful image draws all attention of the beholder.

Condition is basically very good. Some minor spotting is hardly worth mentioning.

37.5 x 33.5 cm (14.8 x 13.2").

$ 3000.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES 55220

The following copper etchings are from Volckamer's Veronese Hesperides.

Villages, palaces and country seats on these prints are all located in northern Italy.

La parte interiore di qsto Cedra.
Il Corno: lontano di Verona miglia 4.

$ 1000.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES5043

La parte interiore della Lima Roma
Palazzo del N.H. Corner a Moncelice.

$ 1000.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES5160

Aranzo con frutto
è foglia varigato

Palazzo del Sig. Lucatello
a St. Pietro Montagnon.
( aquae bolienti naturali)

Small, repaired tear in
upper margin.

$ 1200.00

Order Nr. 55193 SOLD

Limon striato da Malfetta
Palazzo verso L. Dolo del N.H. Grimani.

$ 1000.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES5105

Lumia tonda ordinaria
Palazo del N.H. Grimani alla Bataglia.

$ 1000.00

Order Nr. HESPERIDES5152SOLD