Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel’s engraving, “First General Table Presenting all Six Classes of the Animal Kingdom”, c1750

Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel (1724–1785)

“First General Table Presenting all Six Classes of the Animal Kingdom” (aka “Tabula I. Generalis regni animalis omnes 6 classes animalium comprehendens et tabulis aere incisis illustrans …”), c1750, plate 1 from a series of 47 plates published by Negot Academia Cæs. Franc. (as lettered in plate) in Augsburg in 1780.

Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB) offers an online view of the publication in which this plate features: https://bildsuche.digitale-sammlungen.de/index.html?c=viewer&bandnummer=bsb00104496&pimage=5&v=100&nav=&l=en

Engraving on laid paper trimmed slightly unevenly around the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 43 x 28 cm; (image borderline) 41 x 27.2 cm.

Lettered in plate along the upper edge in Latin: “Tabula I. generalis regni animalis omnes 6 classes animalium comprehendens et tabulis aere incisis illustrans.”

Lettered in plate along the lower edge with a translation of the Latin shown in the upper edge into German along with the publication details: (left) “Negot Academia Cæs. Franc. excudit ncc faccrc ncc vendere Copies” (note that there may be inaccuracies in my reading of this text); (centre) “Cum Gratia et Privil. S. Cl Majest.” (right) “Gottlieb Fried. Riedel invenit, del. et Sculps.” The sixteen panels in this composite plate are inscribed in Latin and German with the relevant classes and orders of the animals represented.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate. The sheet is age-toned with restored fractures, minor marks and stains, trimmed unevenly around the image borderline with a small margin and has been laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this large engraving with a composite of sixteen panels featuring invertebrates, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish—interesting from an Australian viewpoint is the inclusion of a cassowary shown on the right, upper-centre panel—for the total cost of AU$302 (currently US$215.16/EUR190.78/GBP162.44 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare engraving that is seldom seen on the art market, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold