Giant Swift Moth, Antique Chromolithograph by F. W. Frohawk, 1896

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in color, from 1896. The caption printed beneath the image reads "GIANT SWIFT MOTH".

Two large moths are shown against broad pale green leaves. The upper moth rests along a diagonal branch with its wings folded flat over its back, its head at the upper right, the forewings patterned in brown, buff and cream with an eye shaped mark near the lower edge. The lower moth hangs below the branches with its wings spread: the long narrow forewing at the left is cream and orange with a small round spot, the hindwings are salmon orange, and the thick orange body ends in a dark gray tip at the right. Its legs are banded in brown and white.

The plate is signed in the image at the lower right by F. W. Frohawk. No plate number or printer's line appears on the sheet.

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.

Light uneven toning, browner towards the edges. Marked handling soiling along the left, right and top edges. A few small foxing spots in the margin. Remains of a paper guard along the right edge.

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