Butterflies – Antique Lepidoptera Prints
Butterflies have long fascinated both naturalists and collectors for their extraordinary diversity of colour, structure, and pattern. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the study of Lepidoptera became one of the most visually compelling branches of natural history, inspiring artists and engravers to document these insects with remarkable precision.
The works presented here include original antique engravings and lithographs produced for scientific publications dedicated to entomology. Drawn from real specimens and coloured entirely by hand, these plates combine rigorous observation with a refined decorative presence.
From luminous tropical birdwings to delicate European species, antique butterfly prints remain among the most admired images of natural history illustration. Today they are valued both as historical records of early scientific exploration and as elegant works of wall art for refined interiors.
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Selected Originals — Iconic Butterfly Engravings
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Heritage Stories – Butterfly Illustration in Natural History
The illustration of butterflies played a central role in the development of natural history publishing. Entomologists and engravers collaborated to transform delicate specimens into scientifically accurate plates that could circulate through books, museums, and private collections.
| Hippolyte Lucas — Scientific Vision and the Golden Age of Exotic Butterflies | Pauquet — The Engraver Behind the Exotic Butterflies |
Explore antique butterfly prints, original Lepidoptera engravings, and hand-colored entomological illustrations from the golden age of natural history publishing. These historic butterfly plates combine scientific observation with refined decorative beauty — ideal for collectors and sophisticated interiors.
Blue Morpho (Morpho...
An original 19th-century hand-colored engraving of Morpho leonte, the striking Blue Morpho butterfly, drawn and engraved by Pauquet under the scientific direction of Hippolyte Lucas.
Common Green Birdwing...
Original 1835 hand-colored engraving of Ornithoptera priamus (Common Green Birdwing), drawn and engraved by Pauquet under the scientific direction of Hippolyte Lucas.
Orion Butterfly...
Original 1835 hand-colored engraving of Nymphalis orion, drawn and engraved by Pauquet under the scientific direction of Hippolyte Lucas for Exotic Butterflies.
Pollux & Eurilochus...
Original 1835 hand-colored copper engraving depicting the butterflies Pollux and Eurilochus. A visually striking double-specimen plate from Hippolyte Lucas’ celebrated Exotic Butterflies, engraved by Pauquet, with strong appeal as natural history art and antique butterfly wall art.
Demophon & Demodice...
Demophon & Demodice Butterflies (Archaeoprepona demophon, Prepona laertes demodice) – Antique Hand-Colored Engraving, Exotic Butterflies (1835).
La Réunion Swallowtail...
A refined 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two forms of the La Réunion Swallowtail (Papilio phorbanta). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate captures the striking contrast between deep velvety wings and luminous pale blue markings characteristic of this Indian Ocean species.
Blue-banded Eggfly &...
A vivid 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two striking tropical butterflies: the Blue-banded Eggfly (Hypolimnas alimena) and the Blue Diadem (Hypolimnas salmacis). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate highlights their dramatic contrast of velvety black wings with electric blue bands and delicate white markings.
Clipper Butterflies...
A finely detailed 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two forms of the Clipper Butterfly (Parthenos sylvia). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate highlights the species’ elegant network of white markings across dark wings, creating a striking geometric pattern characteristic of tropical Asian butterflies.
Bluebottle Swallowtail...
A vivid 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two striking Asian swallowtail butterflies: the Common Bluebottle (Papilio sarpedon) and the Spotted Bluebottle (Papilio bathycles). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate highlights their elegant turquoise wing bands set against deep black wings.
Golden & Purple Pansy...
A striking 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two tropical pansy butterflies: the Golden Pansy (Junonia callista) and the Purple Pansy (Junonia laomedia). Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate highlights their dramatic wing contrasts and luminous violet eye-spots.
Kite Swallowtail...
A refined 19th-century hand-colored engraving depicting two elegant kite swallowtails: Eurytides protesilaus and Eurytides agapenor. Published in Hippolyte Lucas’s Exotic Butterflies (1835), the plate highlights their distinctive elongated tails and delicate translucent wings.