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Rare prints and maps...Since 1918! Click here to go to Darvill's home page.

Since Adirondack Retro acquired Darvill's Rare Prints in August of 2022, we have been working tirelessly on our New State-Of-The Art Website. We are excited to announce that it is now up and running and that our massive inventory of Antique Prints and Rare Maps are being transferred over to the new site daily. In addition to the nearly 500,000 prints found on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com, Adirondack Retro offers an eclectic selection of Antique and Vintage Advertisements along with their Limited Edition Giclee Prints. During this transition, customers will still be able to shop and make purchases on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com.

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Basilius Besler
Hortus Eystettensis
[the Garden of Eichstädt]

Published in Nuremberg in the year 1613
Original hand-coloured copper engraving over 400 years old!

When Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, Prince Bishop of Eichstaedt (a place about 60 kilometers north of Munich) gave the Nuremberg apothecary and botanist Basilius Besler (1561–1629) the order to publish a book with engravings of flowers and plants, he had something special in mind.The result of his efforts was more than special. It was magnificent. Divided into the four seasons of the year, Besler and his crew, among them famous Wolfgang Kilian of Augsburg, succeeded in creating the most spectacular flower book of all times. On 367 folio-size plates (average size of printed surface 55 x 44 cm - 21.7 x 17.3") over 1000 flowers, representing 667 species are depicted. It took 16 years to complete this outstanding work. Copies of this book have become very rare as the demand for the beautiful prints has increased over the past years. Just look at our images and you'll see why.

Viola, five Varieties

(5 varieties of Violets)

Original 400-year-old, hand-coloured copperplate engraving, excellent condition, with only minor foxing.
Framed size is approximately 27 inches wide by 31.5 inches high
Conservation mounted and framed.

(Colours are, of course, much more vivid and rich than these images portray...
also, reflections on glass show up here that are not on the actual engraving.)


$3,995.95
(plus shipping/insurance, to be determined after check-out based on destination)