Original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, depicting three hummingbirds among pink blossoms. A rare later plate from the Trochilinarum Enumeratio corpus, not fully documented in the principal published index.
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Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
This original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach depicts three hummingbirds arranged around a delicate spray of pink blossoms. Belonging to the remarkable visual world of Trochilinarum Enumeratio, the plate combines scientific observation with a refined decorative elegance that makes Reichenbach’s hummingbird engravings especially compelling today.
Unlike the plates directly documented in the principal published index, this later plate is not fully identified in the available Reichenbach references. It appears to belong to the later Sylphae section, where several plates were left without complete catalogue numbering in the surviving indexes. For this reason, the subject is described here conservatively rather than assigned to an uncertain species.
This plate stands out for its graceful vertical composition and refined colour harmony. The soft pink blossoms form a luminous focal point at the top of the image, while the three hummingbirds create a balanced triangular movement across the page. Deep greens, warm browns and ruby accents give the composition a sophisticated decorative character.
Among the Reichenbach hummingbird plates, this is one of the most interior-friendly examples: elegant, colourful and immediately readable even at a distance. Its generous white margins, delicate botanical detail and poised birds make it especially suited to studies, refined living rooms, hallways and carefully curated gallery walls.
The plate is numbered DCCCXXX (830). In the principal published indexes consulted for Reichenbach’s Trochilinarum Enumeratio, several later plates beyond the main numbered sequence are not fully documented with corresponding species names. This appears to be part of the complex publishing history of the work, in which some later sections were issued or numbered after the preparation of the original index.
For this reason, Prantique records the plate as a later uncatalogued Reichenbach hummingbird engraving, probably associated with the broader Sylphae group, while avoiding any speculative taxonomic attribution. This careful approach preserves the distinction between documented historical identification and open scholarly attribution.
This engraving belongs to Ludwig Reichenbach’s remarkable world of hummingbirds, where Victorian scientific curiosity meets extraordinary visual elegance. Explore the story behind Trochilinarum Enumeratio and discover why these original hummingbird engravings remain so compelling today.
Very Good condition. Original nineteenth-century paper with strong colour, generous margins and a well-preserved impression. Visible plate mark consistent with period intaglio printing. A small age-related mark is visible on the sheet, fully consistent with the authenticity and historical character of the work.
Subject: Three hummingbirds with pink blossoms
Probable group: Sylphae / Trochilinae genuinae (later uncatalogued section)
Work: Trochilinarum Enumeratio
Author: Ludwig Reichenbach
Date: c. 1855–1860
Technique: Original hand-colored engraving
Plate: DCCCXXX (830)
Cataloguing note: Later plate not fully documented in the principal published index
Inscription: ad naturam (“drawn from life”)
Sheet size: approx. 28.5 × 22.5 cm
Specific References
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