Jerboa Capensis. TAB XXXI. 18th century antique print c1796

by Miller, John Frederick

Jerboa Capensis, hopping desert rodent (N.Africa and Asia).

Rare, large, original hand-coloured copperplate engraving, drawn, "Engraved and coloured from the subjects themselves", and published according to the Act, in 1796, by one of the finest of all natural history artists, draughtsman, etcher and engraver, John Frederick Miller (1759-1796), with text descriptions of nature by George Shaw (1751-1813), for Cimelia Physica; figures of rare and curious quadrupeds, birds, &c. together with several of the most elegant plants, etc. published in London in1796.

John Frederick Miller drew and etched with a strong distinctive style, and produced some of the finest natural history illustrations ever done. Best known for his botanical studies, John and his brother James were sons of eminent German artist Johann Sebastian Muller (1715-c.1790). Both John Miller and James Miller produced paintings from the sketches made by Sydney Parkinson during the first voyage of James Cook to Australia.

To intaglio impression, plate measures 43 x 29cm (17 x 11 3/8 inches). Page is 52 x 37cm (20.5 x 15.5 inches)... This plate is in superb condition - except for missing a narrow strip of the central portion of the left side of the page - way outside platemark, it will not show when framed.