This hand-colored engraved and aquatint plate is from John Bennett's A Selection of Rare and Curious Fishes Found Upon the Coast of Ceylon. The work was published in London for the author in 1851.

Bennett explains in the preface of his book that he has "adhered in his drawings of the fishes, strictly to nature; and, as far as his colours permitted, imitated their various hues: but, alas, in vain must be every endeavor to attain perfection." He named the great trevally, a new fish species to science, Scomber heberi, in honor of Reginald Heber, Bishop of Calcutta, who had supported Bennett’s ichthyological research. (Alwynne Wheeler 1999, Nissen ZBI 316)

Condition:
Overall Good to Very Good. There is some faint flecking or residue on the image. There are a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Paper Size: ~ 11 1/2" by 9 1/4"