Joseph Mansell, Orchid Selenipedium Hybridum Grande, 1888, Paper

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Antique Botanical Print – Exotic Orchid Selenipedium Hybridum Grande, c.1888 : A captivating and rare botanical illustration of Selenipedium hybridum … Read more Antique Botanical Print – Exotic Orchid Selenipedium Hybridum Grande, c.1888 : A captivating and rare botanical illustration of Selenipedium hybridum grande, one of the most dramatic slipper orchids featured in the iconic Reichenbachia: Orchids Illustrated and Described series (1888–1894).

This striking hand-colored lithograph showcases the bold and eccentric beauty of this hybrid orchid, now more widely known under the genus Paphiopedilum, famed for its intricate shapes and vividly patterned pouch-like blooms. The plant is depicted in exquisite detail with lush, spear-like foliage rising from the base and giving way to tall, arched flower stalks supporting two fully opened blossoms and a prominent unopened bud. The flowers themselves are particularly arresting: each bloom features a large, rounded lip or “slipper” in shades of rosy brown and green, framed by long, twisted lateral petals in pale green and deep rose. The upper dorsal sepal, green with white veining, adds height and balance to the overall structure. Signed in the image by J. Walton (dated 1889), this plate was lithographed by Joseph Mansell in London.

As part of the *Reichenbachia* project spearheaded by Henry Frederick Conrad Sander—known as “The Orchid King”—this plate belongs to one of the most ambitious and opulent orchid publications ever produced. Created for connoisseurs, scientists, and collectors, the series brought together exceptional botanical accuracy and lavish artistic presentation. This print is not only a stunning visual tribute to orchid hybridization but also a valuable historical document from the golden age of orchid mania. Highly desirable among collectors of antique botanical art, it serves equally well as a dramatic and sophisticated decorative piece.
Condition report: Very good condition. Minimal age toning and only a few faint spots near margins. Strong impression with clean, vivid coloring. No tears or repairs. Blank verso. See less