Johann Elias Ridinger (Ulm 1698 – Augsburg 1767). Whitish Tiger (recte Cougar/Puma). Colored etching with engraving. Inscribed: TIGRE ALBVS. / Weißlichter Tyger. / Tigre blanchatre. / Familia IV. Fünffzähige. / Ex Collection D. Kleinii. / J. El. Ridinger fec. et excud. A.V. 12⅛ × 8⅛ in (30.8 × 20.7 cm).

Thienemann & Schwarz 1075. – IN THE RIDINGERS’ ORIGINAL COLORING from the unnumbered Colored Animal Kingdom created since 1754 and concluded finally posthumously not before 1773 (“Complete copies are next to untraceable”, so Weigel, Art Cat., sect. XXVIII, Ridinger Appendix 63a as merely 120-sheet torso, 1857 ! , but also just individual plates quite rarely on the market only, at niemeyer’s currently the one as the others all the same). – Remaining uncolored contrary to the prospectus, a second edition from the plates shortened even under loss of animals and with modified titling and the Ridinger inscription removed, yet now numbered, was published by Engelbrecht/Herzberg in Augsburg 1824/25.

On C & I Honig paper as that sturdy Dutch quality paper Ridinger used in line with his preamble to the Principal Colors of Horses

“on account of the fine illumination” for the colored works

“as for this purpose it is the most decent and best”. – Margins on three sides 1.8-3.2 cm, below 5.4 cm wide. – Quite faint tidemark on the back quite minimally showing through in the lower white text/paper field.

Lioness assailed at Her Young Ones by a Bear
(Th. 718; comparative ill.)

The position of the beast furiously leaping up at a boulder quite related to Th. 718, the “Lioness assailed at Her Young Ones by a Bear” as sheet 3 of the first four plates of the complete extremely rare Fights of Killing Animals held back for decades for socio-political caution.

Offer no. 15,974 | price on application