125 Antoine-François Prévost (1697–1763) – African Animals, Including Chameleon, Porcupine, and Leopard – Engraving (Circa 1747)
This detailed composite zoological illustration displays several exotic African creatures assembled within a tropical landscape featuring palm and fruit trees. The foreground is dominated by a porcupine and a spotted leopard (panther), while a crocodile lies near the water in the background. Various bird species, including a presumed Royal Bird and an Eagle, are shown perched or flying around the central tree. This illustration provides a visual catalog of the fauna encountered by explorers in Guinea, West Africa, and was published as a supplement in the exhaustive French compendium, the Histoire Générale des Voyages.
Antoine-François Prévost d'Exiles, known as the Abbé Prévost, was a prominent French author, novelist, and historian of the 18th century, famous for his novel Manon Lescaut. He spent years compiling and editing the encyclopedic Histoire Générale des Voyages (General History of Voyages). This monumental work, which synthesized travel accounts from around the world, was a major publishing success of the Enlightenment, and Prévost's editorial effort was instrumental in shaping European perceptions of distant cultures and environments.
Artist or Maker: Antoine-François Prévost
Dimensions: Approximately 26 × 19 cm
Medium: Engraving
Date: Circa 1747
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 250 - 350 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
Dahlströms Rare Prints
Harju maakond, Tallinn
Lasnamäe linnaosa, Ruunaoja tn 3, 11415
Estland
info@dahlstromsrareprints.com
© Software Copyright 2025 Skeleton. All rights reserved.