Frankfurt am Main, 1592. Small oblong folio (18.0 x 27.0 cm). Single plate, finely and beautifully hand-coloured.

A fine plate of this very rare work which comprises four parts with 48 plates in all. All plates are very uncommon, if not rare. This plate illustrate a mouse "Mus non uni fidit antro", a peacock butterfly, a snail, mussel, dragonfly, grasshopper, several other insects, raspberries, a pear, etc. This work is generally renowned for its finely executed entomological illustrations. Joris (Georgius) Hoefnagel (1542-1601) produced the Archetypa during his 'Frankfurt period' which was between 1591 and 1594. "The Archetypa were engraved as a reproduction of a collection of models and served in turn as a pattern book for other artists" (quote from Archetypa Studiaque Patris... Nature, Poetry and Science in Art around 1600, by Thea Vignau-Wilberg, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, 1994). Some weak creasing; few, very short tears and some soiling to the margins, as well as a tiny, round hole, otherwise a fine, strong, accurately coloured and unmarked print. Hollstein, IX, 17-64; Horn-Schenkling, 10472; Nissen ZBI, 1954.