This image was sourced from our original 'Dekorative Vorbilder' collection; A gorgeous collection of Art Nouveau decorative patterns, graphics and illustrations including plants, figures and animals. For draftsman, painters, graphic artists, decorators, sculptors and architects. Published in 1904 by Julius Hoffman, Stuttgart.
This 167 year old scan is from "U.S.P.R.R. Exp. & Surveys - To ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Made under the direction of the secretary of war in 1853-1856". The artwork inside was some of the most artistic and accurate prints made of Birds, Mammals, Reptiles and Fish from the American West. Many of the Lithographs were beautifully hand-colored by a group of naturalists and artists who travelled with the expedition surverying the West for the U.S. Pacific Railroad. Search our archives or click on the artist name below to view the rest of the collection!
An original Antique Plate scan from the National Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge. Published by William Mackenzie in 1880. Click on the Artist's name to see the full collection from this series!
A stunning illustration of a crested hummingbird with detailed feathers, perched on a tree branch and looking into the distance, perfect for nature and wildlife art.
A vintage line art illustration of a hummingbird in flight with wings spread open, perfect for nature and wildlife-themed artworks.
Here we have a high resolution scan of a wonderfully handcoloured lithograph print from Oliver Goldsmith's "A History of the Earth and Animated Nature". A celebrated series of books from the 1860's, wherein the most distinguished British and Foreign naturalists collaborated to produce.
An isolated vintage line art of a purple tailed hummingbird in flight with open wings, transparent and perfect for natural history and wildlife designs.
A vintage line art illustration of a hummingbird perched on its nest with two eggs, supported by a tree branch with detailed foliage, ideal for nature themes.
Detailed illustration of a giant hummingbird resting on a plant, emphasizing its elongated beak and vibrant plumage, isolated on a transparent background.
An isolated vintage illustration of a hummingbird perched on a branch with a flower below, resembling a petunia, ideal for nature-themed projects.
A vintage line art illustration of a hummingbird in flight, captured in an isolated PNG format, ideal for nature and wildlife-themed designs.
This illustration depicts a hummingbird in flight, feeding on flowers with its long beak. The artwork captures the delicate nature of the hummingbird, showcasing its vibrant wings and feeding behavior in a natural setting.
You're looking at a scarce, 229 year old, steel plate engraving from the original "The New Encyclopaedia Or Modern Universal Dictionary Of Arts And Sciences On A New And Improved Plan" by Hall, William Henry, Bedford Row, London, published by C Cooke, London.
Original Colour Vintage Print from Lorenz Okenfuss' 'Oken's Naturgeschichte' (Allgemeine Naturgeschichte für alle Stände), with illustrations by Johann Susemihl (1767-1847), and published in Stuttgart by Hoffman between 1839 and 1841. Lorenz Oken (1 August 1779 - 11 August 1851) was a German naturalist, botanist, biologist, and ornithologist. Oken was born Lorenz Okenfuss (German: Okenfuß) in Bohlsbach (now part of Offenburg), Ortenau, Baden, and studied natural history and medicine at the universities of Freiburg and Würzburg. He went on to the University of Göttingen, where he became a Privatdozent (unsalaried lecturer), and shortened his name to Oken. As Lorenz Oken, he published a small work entitled Grundriss der Naturphilosophie, der Theorie der Sinne, mit der darauf gegründeten Classification der Thiere (1802). This was the first of a series of works which established him as a leader of the movement of "Naturphilosophie" in Germany.
The type foundry and print shop of old would create books, like the one this image was discovered within, to help customers and clients with their design choices. Naturally, these books were jam packed with useful illustrative elements that could be combined to create a final piece. Today, these books are extremely difficult to get a hold of. Especially those that were published in the late 1800s. They were not mainstream publications, they simply served as 'catalogs' and thus were only produced in small numbers. Fortunately, we were introduced to a collector who had precisely what we had been searching for for so long. After some costly negotiations, we're very excited to be able to share the wonderful gems within.
Our supporters and members help us continue collecting and restoring these wonderful pieces of art for the modern creator
While a lot of the library is available for free, some is kept behind closed dusty doors only to be accessed by our lovely members.