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An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting brilliantly iridescent hummingbirds feeding among Stachytarpheta and Cleome blossoms. A refined composition celebrating the extraordinary colours and botanical relationships of tropical hummingbirds.
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Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.
This magnificent original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio celebrates one of the most extraordinary features of hummingbirds: their iridescent plumage. Brilliant sapphire blues and luminous emerald greens transform these remarkable birds into living jewels, while elegant flowering plants complete a composition of exceptional scientific and artistic refinement.
Representing two closely related Thalurania hummingbirds feeding among nectar-rich blossoms, the engraving perfectly illustrates the intimate ecological relationship between tropical birds and flowering plants. The restrained composition allows the extraordinary colours of the plumage to become the true focal point of the scene.
Unlike more elaborate narrative compositions, this plate achieves its remarkable impact through colour, balance and light. The four hummingbirds appear suspended around two distinct botanical settings, creating a calm and harmonious arrangement that naturally guides the viewer's eye from the delicate blue blossoms to the elegant white flowers below.
The extraordinary sapphire breast, emerald throat and metallic green plumage exemplify the visual brilliance for which hummingbirds have fascinated naturalists for centuries. Rather than relying on pigments alone, these dazzling colours arise from the microscopic structure of the feathers, producing the iridescent effects that continue to captivate both scientists and collectors today.
Reichenbach assembled two members of the genus Thalurania on this remarkable plate: Thalurania furcata and Thalurania Gyrinna. Both species were associated with different tropical flowering plants, reflecting the close botanical relationships that nineteenth-century naturalists carefully documented alongside hummingbird diversity. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The original index associates Thalurania furcata with Stachytarpheta urticifolia Sims and Thalurania Gyrinna with Cleome heptaphylla L. Together these nectar-rich plants illustrate the remarkable ecological partnership between hummingbirds and tropical flowering species, a relationship that lies at the heart of Reichenbach's vision of natural history. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
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 hand colouring and a clear plate mark. Minor age-related signs may be present, entirely consistent with authenticity and the historical character of the work.
Species: Thalurania furcata and Thalurania Gyrinna
Common name: Woodnymph hummingbirds (historical classification)
Work: Trochilinarum Enumeratio
Author: Ludwig Reichenbach
Date: c. 1855–1860
Technique: Original hand-colored engraving
Plate: DCLXXXII (682)
Reference numbers: 4498–4501
Inscription: ad naturam (“drawn from life”)
Associated plants: Stachytarpheta urticifolia Sims and Cleome heptaphylla L.
Origin noted by Reichenbach: Brazil and Guiana
Sheet size: approx. 28.5 × 22.5 cm
Specific References
Original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicting Coeligena sagittata and the hummingbird identified by Reichenbach as Warszewiczii (later associated with Helianthea iris Gould). A visually striking composition featuring emerald plumage, warm copper tones and two botanical species from Northern Peru.
An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting Bourcieria prunellii among the vibrant blossoms of Achimenes picta. A refined composition balancing quiet observation and graceful flight in one of the most elegant plates of the series.
Original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicting the Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango), a striking tropical hummingbird illustrated by Ludwig Reichenbach in his celebrated Trochilinarum Enumeratio.
An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, portraying emerald hummingbirds feeding among brilliant crimson and golden blossoms. A refined natural history composition celebrating the extraordinary colours and botanical diversity of the tropical forest.
An exceptional original hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting five brilliant hummingbirds feeding among scarlet tropical flowers. Featuring Esmeralda, Euchloris and Maculicollis, this dynamic nineteenth-century composition beautifully combines botanical richness with the elegance of Victorian ornithological illustration.
An exceptionally decorative nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicting the Crimson Topaz (Topaza pyra), one of the most spectacular hummingbirds of the Amazon Basin. Published by Ludwig Reichenbach in Trochilinarum Enumeratio, the composition combines vibrant colour, remarkable movement and a rarely encountered nesting scene.
An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting hummingbirds surrounding their nest among brilliant tubular blossoms. This elegant composition celebrates the harmony between tropical birds, flowers and the delicate cycle of new life.
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.
Original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving depicting the Blue-headed Sabrewing (Saepiopterus lazulus), a tropical hummingbird illustrated by Ludwig Reichenbach in his celebrated Trochilinarum Enumeratio.
An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting Chrysuronia eliciae among the tropical blossoms of Pitcairnia exscapa. A richly composed Victorian natural history plate celebrating hummingbirds, botanical diversity and the living complexity of tropical ecosystems.
An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting three hummingbirds gathered around elegant pendulous blossoms. One of the most harmonious compositions of the series, celebrating movement, colour and the timeless relationship between hummingbirds and flowering plants.
An exceptional original hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting the magnificent Crimson Topaz (Topaza pyra) beside its beautifully woven nest. One of the rarest behavioural studies in nineteenth-century ornithological illustration, combining scientific observation with remarkable decorative elegance.
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.
Original 19th-century hummingbird engraving depicting Cuvier’s Sabrewing (*Campylopterus cuvierii*), published by Ludwig Reichenbach for *Trochilinarum Enumeratio*. A refined composition marked *ad naturam* — drawn from life — combining scientific observation with remarkable decorative elegance.
An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting Lesbia victoriae among spectacular tropical blossoms. A refined natural history composition celebrating the remarkable partnership between hummingbirds and flowering plants.
An exceptional original hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, portraying hummingbirds during the nesting season. Featuring a beautifully woven nest, delicate blue flowers and vibrant emerald plumage, this rare nineteenth-century composition combines ornithological observation with remarkable decorative elegance.