{"product_id":"shaw-nodder-gangetic-dolphin-vellum-c1804","title":"Gangetic Dolphin (Narrow-Snouted Indian Dolphin) - Shaw \u0026 Nodder Velum (RPN) c 1804","description":"\u003ch3 data-end=\"302\" data-start=\"251\"\u003eGangetic Dolphin (\u003cem data-end=\"297\" data-start=\"275\"\u003eDelphinus gangeticus\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"489\" data-start=\"303\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"343\" data-start=\"303\"\u003eGeorge Shaw \u0026amp; Richard Polydore Nodder,\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem data-end=\"373\" data-start=\"344\"\u003eThe Naturalist’s Miscellany\u003c\/em\u003e, London, c. 1804–1806 Hand-coloured copperplate engraving on rare Velum paper, with Latin and English text leaves\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1238\" data-start=\"491\"\u003eThis elegant late-Georgian depiction of the now-endangered Ganges River Dolphin (\u003cem data-end=\"596\" data-start=\"574\"\u003ePlatanista gangetica\u003c\/em\u003e) appeared in one of the most ambitious natural history serials of the Enlightenment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1238\" data-start=\"491\"\u003eIssued circa 1804–1806, the plate belongs to the later series engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder following the death of his father Frederick Polydore Nodder in 1800. Shaw’s accompanying description was among the first Western scientific accounts of an Indian freshwater cetacean, drawn from \u003cem data-end=\"1000\" data-start=\"980\"\u003eAsiatic Researches\u003c\/em\u003e, vol. 7 (1803). Nodder’s hand-coloured engraving captures the animal’s elongated beak and smooth bluish-grey skin with refined delicacy—hallmarks of the \u003cem data-end=\"1179\" data-start=\"1154\"\u003eNaturalist’s Miscellany\u003c\/em\u003e style prized by 18th- and 19th-century collectors alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1238\" data-start=\"491\"\u003eA small aside, we have clipped the signature area bottom left of the dolphin leaf into a separate image, what it tells us is: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“RPN — Del. Sculpt.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat that means is that RPN was Richard Polydore Nodder, the son of Frederick Polydore Nodder. The father was the originator of the Naturalist’s Miscellany. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDel. Sculpt. are the Latin abbreviations for delineavit ( to draw \/ drew) and sculpsit (engraved). So our signature can be seen as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder.” This is quite interesting, because most early Naturalist’s Miscellany plates were engraved by Frederick the father, but after his death in 1800, his son Richard continued the work usually signing with these initials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1535\" data-start=\"1240\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1535\" data-start=\"1240\"\u003eFine, with strong plate mark and original hand-colour.\u003cbr data-end=\"1312\" data-start=\"1309\"\u003eThe two accompanying text leaves are clean, bright, and evenly toned on laid paper, showing deckled edges and binding pinholes along the inner margins—evidence of careful removal from the original stitched volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-end=\"1773\" data-start=\"1537\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1654\" data-start=\"1537\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1654\" data-start=\"1539\"\u003eLatin leaf: Minimal age toning; excellent legibility; no foxing or tears; slight binding offset along gutter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-end=\"1773\" data-start=\"1655\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1773\" data-start=\"1657\"\u003eEnglish leaf: Crisp impression and strong ink density; one tiny nibble to the outer edge from page separation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1924\" data-start=\"1775\"\u003eOverall grade: \u003cem data-end=\"1826\" data-start=\"1794\"\u003eFine to Near Fine (8.5–9 \/ 10)\u003c\/em\u003e — archival-quality and highly desirable as a complete triad (plate + Latin + English text).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2502\" data-start=\"1926\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"1948\" data-start=\"1945\"\u003eLater-series \u003cem data-end=\"1986\" data-start=\"1961\"\u003eNaturalist’s Miscellany\u003c\/em\u003e plates (engraved by R. P. Nodder) were printed in very limited numbers—probably 200–250 copies—as subscription interest declined after 1800. Fewer than 100 complete examples of the \u003cem data-end=\"2194\" data-start=\"2176\"\u003eGangetic Dolphin\u003c\/em\u003e are believed to survive today, most lacking one or both text pages. This intact set, finely coloured and well preserved, represents one of the earliest scientific portrayals of an Asian river dolphin. Rising demand for early zoological works depicting endangered species continues to strengthen its value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2707\" data-start=\"2634\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2643\" data-start=\"2634\"\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13.97 × 22.23 cm (image and text leaves close to A5 format).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2910\" data-start=\"2709\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"2718\" data-start=\"2709\"\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e The species illustrated is today classified as \u003cem data-end=\"2789\" data-start=\"2767\"\u003ePlatanista gangetica\u003c\/em\u003e, one of the world’s few surviving freshwater dolphins—now \u003cstrong data-end=\"2873\" data-start=\"2848\"\u003ecritically endangered\u003c\/strong\u003e in its native Indian subcontinent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lumenrare Antique Prints \u0026 Maps","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56331463393663,"sku":"LR-SN-DOLPHIN-1804","price":375.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/8356\/9279\/files\/gangetic-dolphin-narrow-snouted-indian-dolphin-shaw-nodder-rpn-c-1804-8901236.jpg?v=1763486403","url":"https:\/\/lumenrare.com\/products\/shaw-nodder-gangetic-dolphin-vellum-c1804","provider":"Lumenrare Antique Prints \u0026 Maps","version":"1.0","type":"link"}