Copper engravings by Marcus Elieser Bloch

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Chaetodon Ciliaris, Angelfish BHF27 $295	Pleuronectes Punctatus,Wiff BHF26 $325


Diodon Atinga, Porcupine Puffer Fish BHF31 $295	Ostracion nasus, Shortnose Boxfish BHF100 $295

Ostracion concatenatus, The Knitted Trunk Fish
BHF101 $295

Ostracion cubicus, Yellow Boxfish
BHF102 $295


Callionymus Lyra, The Gemmous Draggonet BHF39 $275	Squalus Canicula, The Bounce BHF44 $245


Macrourus Rupestris, Mountain Salmon BHF41 $450	Acipenser Huso, Grand Sturgeon BHF42 $425


Anthias Diagramma - The Warna Fish BLC25 $325	Polynemus Paradiseus - Paradise Threadfin BLC26 $325


Chaetodon Orbis, Chaetodon Rostratus - Butterfly Fish BLC31 $295	Anthias Japonicus, Anthias Bilineatus BLC32 $265


Tetrodon Honckenu, Puffer Fish BHF51 $245	Tetrodon Spengleri, Bandtail Puffer Fish BHF50 $275


Balistes Biaculeatus, Balistes Tomentosus, Little old wife BHF67 $245	Ostracion Triqueter, Trunck fish BHF54 $245


Chaetodon Nigricans, Whitecheek Surgeonfish BHF57 $295	Gadus Barbatus, Whiting Pout BHF58 $275


Chaetodon Annularis, Chaetodon Octofasciatus, Butterfly Fish BHF66 $255	Chaetodon Arcuatus, Chaetodon Unimaculatus, Butterfly Fish BHF64 $245


Gadus Merluccius, Hakae BHF69 $245	Cepola Taenia, Band Fish BHF73 $175


Pegasus Natans, Syngnathus Biaculeatus, Dragon Fish, Aligator Pipe Fish BHF75 $245	Gobius Plumieri, Cottus Monopterigius BHF76 $225

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We are pleased to present these beautiful rare original hand colored copper engravings from M.E. Bloch’s "Okonomische Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Auslandischen Fische", published in Berlin, 1785-1787. The work of Bloch is famous for the beauty of the fish portrayed and the superb hand coloring, and considered by many to be the greatest of all the works on ichthyology. These prints are in the folio size, measuring approximately 10 1/2 inches by 17 3/8 inches, on superb thick chain lined paper in a creamy color, with strong plate marks and good margins. There is no text, but a copy of the original title page is also included.

As longtime print dealers, we have bought many Bloch prints over the years and are delighted to find the hand coloring in this set the most vibrant and fresh we have ever seen. The genuine silver paint enhances may of the fishes and still glistens and is without the oxidation so commonly found with metallic paints of this age. The condition of these prints is excellent, remarkable for their age of about 230 years and a fine opportunity to gain some fine specimens!