Citrus antique print, Cedro Ordinario, at Volckamer estate, c1714

by Volckamer, Johann Christoph

Stunning 18thC citrus fruit engraving with ribbon title - floating above Volckamer's own estate, Gostenhoff, in Germany.  The wealthy used to grow plants native to warmer climates, and moved them into large greenhouses for shelter during winter. 

Hardly 'ordinario'... this far from ordinary Lemon plus half a lemon, is an original copperplate engraving for Nurnbergische Hesperides, published between 1708 and 1714 in Nuremberg, by J. A. Endter Sohn und Erben (J.A. Endter Son and Heir) for wealthy silk merchant Johann Christoph Volckamer (1644-1720) (Fine later colour).

With his stunning fruit illustrations, Volckamer gave hommage to Giovanni Battista Ferrari's Hesperides, the first book to illustrate only citrus fruit. Volckamer's imaginative presentation of each fruit floating above a landscape with a village or estate adds another dimension to this series of rare interesting engravings from the beginning of the 18th century. On hand-made paper of the period, this series of Volckamer Citrus antique prints have the finest hand-colour we've seen. 

(Hesperides were nymphs who, together with a hundred-headed dragon, guarded the golden apples from Goddess Hera’s orchard. These apples were said to grant immortality when eaten.)

To platemark measures 310 x 205mm (12 1/4 x 8 inches). Page size: 355 x 230mm (13 7/8 x 9 inches).