Close-ups
Framed and on the wall
Frame and rooms are illustrations of how the print could look, drawn to its real size; it is sold unframed unless the description says otherwise.
Flora and Fauna
Antique Print with Hand Coloring of a Black Giant Squirrel or Javan Squirrel
$290
€260 · £220
Original print, not a reproduction
Ships worldwide from the Netherlands, insured and tracked. 14-day returns.
- Date
- Not stated
- Sheet size
- 9.6 × 5.8 in (24.3 × 14.7 cm)
- Condition
- Good. General age-related toning. Minor wear and soiling. Some staining. Blank verso. Please study image carefully.
- Island
- Java
- Collection
- Flora and Fauna
- Stock no.
- f_38946972
- Color
- Hand colored
What the condition grades mean
- Excellent
- Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
- Very good
- Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
- Good
- Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
- Fair
- Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
The image depicts an antique print of the black giant squirrel, also known as the Malayan giant squirrel (scientific name: Ratufa bicolor). This print is particularly historical and valuable because it comes from an era when wildlife illustrations were an essential method for sharing knowledge of zoology and natural history among scientists and enthusiasts. These prints were often hand-colored after being printed, adding a layer of artistry and vibrancy to the images.
The print is titled 'The Javan Squirrel of Pennant, Sciurus Bicolor' and includes a representation of the species, which is distinguished by its large size and distinctive bi-colored pattern, often with a dark upper body and a lighter colored belly. The image shows the squirrel perched on a branch, rendered with fine detail and soft coloring that suggest its natural habitat.
This particular piece was published by G.B. Whittaker and is based on an illustration by Charles Hamilton Smith, around the year 1825. Hamilton Smith was a respected artist and zoologist of his time, and his work contributed significantly to the study and documentation of wildlife.
The black giant squirrel is native to the Indomalayan zoogeographic region and is found across a range of countries including northern Bangladesh, northeast India, eastern Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, West Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and western parts of Indonesia like Java, Sumatra, Bali, and nearby small islands. These squirrels are arboreal, living primarily in forested areas where they can glide from tree to tree, and are known for their impressive size compared to other squirrel species.
