Ascidians, Solitary Salpa and Chain Salpa, Antique Wood Engraving, 1896

This is an original antique wood engraving, printed in black, from 1896. The caption printed in type beneath the image reads "ASCIDIANS." and below it "SOLITARY SALPA AND CHAIN-SALPA."

The animals are cut in white line and white stipple on a solid black ground, so that their transparent bodies read as if lit in dark water. At the upper left a large solitary salpa is drawn in side view, its barrel shaped body crossed by curved white bands and a long diagonal line through the interior, with tapering projections at the right end. Along the bottom of the plate a long chain salpa runs from the left edge in a straight band of linked individuals, then bends and climbs toward the upper right. Each member of the chain is drawn with the same crossing white marks.

The block is signed in white at the lower left "Etzold" and at the lower right "J.G. FLEGEL". There is no plate number. The image is printed from a wood block: the white areas are cut lines and stippled dots with clean edges, and the caption is set in letterpress type.

The plate comes from The Royal Natural History, a popular illustrated natural history in six volumes edited by the zoologist Richard Lydekker and published in London by Frederick Warne and Co. in 1893 to 1896. The title page that accompanies these plates is dated 1896, which is the date given for this sheet.

Even age toning. Handling soiling along the right edge. A few small foxing spots in the margin. A pale stain in the bottom margin. A few small light flecks in the printed area. All four corners are present.

This is an original antique plate, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.