Beetles in a Flood, Antique Entomological Chromolithograph, 1896

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in color, from 1896. The caption printed beneath the image reads "BEETLES IN A FLOOD."

Floodwater covers the ground, and beetles of many kinds have climbed onto every plant and stem above it. A tall leafy plant rises at the left with beetles in red, yellow, green and black on its leaves and stalk, among them small red and yellow spotted beetles and a large brown beetle with long antennae near its base. At the right an arching stem and a mossy stone are crowded with more beetles, a large black beetle sits on the stone, and others float or swim in the water along the bottom. A green frog sits among the leaves at the lower left. Leafy and bare trees stand behind the water, and the roofs of houses show through the haze at the left.

No artist's signature, plate number or printer's line appears on the sheet; the caption is the only printed lettering.

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. Marked handling soiling along the left, right and top edges. Scattered light foxing in the margin. A small water stain at the bottom right corner. All four corners are present.

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