Johann Leonhard Frisch (19 March 1666 – 21 March 1743) was a German linguist, entomologist and ornithologist. This first edition, originally hand-colored engraving is from Johann Leonhard Frisch's Vorstellung der Vogel in Teutschland und Beylaugffig auch Einiger Fremden, mit Ihren Eigenschaften Beschrieben…und Nach Iheren Naturlichen Farben. The engraving is on chain-linked, watermarked paper. This work was published in 1733 and completed posthumously in 1763 by his sons and Ferdinand Helfreich. It is considered the first great German bird book. Fine Bird Books refers to it as “One of the most enjoyable of all bird books and rare”.

Johann Leonhard Frisch led a varied career including being a singer, minister, interpreter for the German army, and a headmaster at a Berlin school. His academic pursuits interested him in natural history and to form a Cabinet of Curiosities from which the illustrations for the work were often drawn. Frisch is credited by some with the discovery of the color 'Prussian blue', and was responsible for the planting of mulberries on the ramparts of Berlin in a successful attempt to produce silk.

Country of Origin: Germany.

Artist or Maker: Johann Leonhard Frisch (German 1666-1743)

Size: 13 1/2" by 9 inches.

Medium: Originally Hand-colored Engraving

Date: 1733-1763

Condition: The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age.

Literature: Vorstellung der Vogel in Teutschland…

Please note that the physical colors of this item may vary from the pictures in the listing, given the quality of the camera, the lighting and the background used.