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Nature's Perfect Design | Original Mango Hummingbird Engraving by Reichenbach
  • Nature's Perfect Design | Original Mango Hummingbird Engraving by Reichenbach
  • Nature's Perfect Design | Original Mango Hummingbird Engraving by Reichenbach
  • Nature's Perfect Design | Original Mango Hummingbird Engraving by Reichenbach
Nature's Perfect Design | Original Mango Hummingbird Engraving by Reichenbach
Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

Jamaican Mango (Anthracothorax mango) – Original Hand-Colored Engraving by Ludwig Reichenbach, Antique Print

€395.00
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An original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio, depicting Mango Hummingbirds feeding among elegant tropical blossoms. This refined composition celebrates the remarkable evolutionary relationship between hummingbirds and the flowers they pollinate.

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  Authentic antique prints

Original engravings from the 17th–19th century.

Nature's Perfect Design: Mango Hummingbirds and Tropical Blossoms

This exquisite original nineteenth-century hand-colored engraving from Ludwig Reichenbach's Trochilinarum Enumeratio illustrates the remarkable relationship between Mango Hummingbirds and the tropical flowers upon which they depend. More than a beautiful natural history plate, the composition reveals one of nature's most elegant examples of evolutionary harmony.

The birds' iridescent emerald plumage, deep sapphire throat and crimson tail feathers create a magnificent contrast with the large golden blossoms. Every element of the composition highlights the extraordinary refinement that characterises Reichenbach's finest hummingbird engravings.

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Visual Analysis

This engraving stands out through the clarity of its composition. Three hummingbirds occupy distinct positions that naturally guide the eye toward the flowering branch, where elegant trumpet-shaped blossoms dominate the upper half of the plate. The generous white background enhances both the birds and the botanical elements, producing an image of remarkable balance and visual sophistication.

The long, gently curved bills echo the shape of the flowers themselves, transforming the engraving into a visual demonstration of functional beauty. Rather than presenting birds and plants as separate subjects, Reichenbach portrays them as complementary parts of the same living system.

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About the Species

This plate depicts Anthracothorax mango, one of the best-known members of the Mango Hummingbird group. Reichenbach associated the species with Carica papaya, reflecting the close ecological relationship between hummingbirds and nectar-producing tropical plants documented throughout Trochilinarum Enumeratio.

The long, slender bill of the Mango Hummingbird is perfectly adapted to reaching deep within tubular flowers, illustrating one of nature's finest examples of co-evolution. As hummingbirds feed on nectar, they simultaneously transport pollen between blossoms, making them essential pollinators within tropical ecosystems. This engraving beautifully captures that intricate partnership between anatomy, behaviour and botany.

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Heritage Stories

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.

Ludwig Reichenbach and the Art of Hummingbirds →

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Condition Report

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.

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Details

Species: Anthracothorax mango
Common name: Mango Hummingbird
Work: Trochilinarum Enumeratio
Author: Ludwig Reichenbach
Date: c. 1855–1860
Technique: Original hand-colored engraving
Plate: DCCXCI (791)
Reference numbers: 4839–41
Inscription: ad naturam (“drawn from life”)
Associated plant: Carica papaya L.
Origin noted by Reichenbach: Antilles, Brazil, Paraguay, British Guiana, Mexico and New Granada
Sheet size: approx. 28.5 × 22.5 cm

U28
1 Item

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