Black Stork, "Ciconia Nigra": An 18th Century Hand-Colored Frisch Engraving, 1733

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This is a rare 18th Century hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Ciconia Nigra" (Black Stork) by Johann Leonhard Frisch is plate … Read more This is a rare 18th Century hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Ciconia Nigra" (Black Stork) by Johann Leonhard Frisch is plate 197 from the 1st edition of his publication 'Vorstellung der Vogel in Teutschland und Beylaugffig auch Einiger Fremden, mit Ihren Eigenschaften Beschrieben…und Nach Iheren Naturlichen Farben', published in Berlin, Germany in 1733. This engraving depicts a Ciconia nigra or Black Stork, a large stork bird that lives mainly in Europe, Asia and Africa. It commonly migrates long distances on thermal air currents from the colder Northern European climates to Sub-Saharan Africa in the winter, sometimes as far long as Finland to South Africa. The Asian black stork migrates to the Indian region. There is also a non-migratory black stork living in Southern Africa.

This beautiful hand-colored black stork engraving is printed on original 18th century chain-linked laid paper. The sheet measures 13.5" x 9". There is a faint linear mark in the right margin that may have occurred during the process of coloration. It is otherwise in very good to excellent condition.

Johann Leonhard Frisch (1666-1743) was a German scholar who was a headmaster at a school in Berlin, a singer, a minister, an interpreter for the German army, and an artist. His academic interest in natural history inspired him to form a Cabinet of Curiosities for which he created the illustrations. Frisch is credited by some with the discovery of the color 'Prussian Blue', and was responsible for the planting of mulberries on the ramparts of Berlin in a successful attempt to produce silk. Frisch's academic achievement 'Vorstellung der Vogel in Teutschland' took nearly 30 years to complete. See less