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 illustrates a swallowtail "Hoc variare, decus mundi est: haec summi artificis", a common blue, a moth, other insects, a sea horse, garden snail, snake's head fritillary, onion, 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). This work was published uncoloured. The colouring is therefore always later and may vary in quality and accuracy. Some minor, marginal creasing; some soiling to the margins, right edge a bit rough; otherwise a fine, strong, unmarked, accurately coloured print. Hollstein IX, 17-64; Horn-Schenkling, 10472; Nissen ZBI, 1954.