Overview
An original hand-colored leaf from the monumental natural history series by Ulisse Aldrovandi, depicting a heron-like bird (Ardea cinerea) alongside a snail and a persicaria plant.
Identification
Ulisse Aldrovandi Hand-Colored Ornithological Plate, c. 1599-1640
Photo reference
5 uploaded photos
Story
This leaf from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s monumental 'Ornithologiae' (1599) represents the dawn of modern zoology, capturing the moment Renaissance art met empirical science.
Maker / Origin
The workshop of Italian polymath Ulisse Aldrovandi employed master draftsmen and engravers to meticulously illustrate his vast Bolognese cabinet of curiosities.
Condition & Value
The addition of custom gallery framing and vibrant hand-coloring elevates this individual, extracted encyclopedia leaf into a premium standalone decorative artwork. The paper shows characteristic age-toning and light foxing (small brown spots) consistent with 17th-century rag paper.
Full Research
See what it's actually worth.
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Market Analysis
The secondary market for Aldrovandi's works is distinctly bifurcated between complete bound volumes and single extracted plates. Intact 17th-century volumes serve as the market ceiling, routinely achieving $2,500 to $3,000 (e.g., Swann Galleries, 2023; Bonhams, 2004). Dealers frequently break these volumes to sell individual leaves. At auction, single detached leaves typically hammer between $90 and $185 (Wimbledon Auctions, 2025; Sworders, 2023). However, mythical subjects (Sea Serpents, Dragons) can stretch to $140–$325 (Trillium Rare Prints, 2025). This subject—a recognizable Grey Heron—benefits from being hand-colored and framed, elevating it above baseline uncolored pages. Thus, an auction estimate of $150 to $250 is well-supported, while its retail replacement value (reflecting the Hansen Gallery origin and framing costs) approaches $600 to $800.
Value Drivers
▲ Hansen Gallery provenance adds institutional credibility and retail context.
▲ Desirable ornithological subject (Grey Heron) compared to less recognizable botanical or monstrous subjects.
▲ Later hand-coloring significantly elevates the print's decorative appeal.
▲ High-quality custom archival framing preserves the leaf and commands a gallery premium.
Concerns
▼ Potential medium misidentification on the gallery label (copperplate engraving vs. standard woodcut) could cause minor confusion for specialized antiquarian collectors.
▼ The market for single bookplates is fundamentally capped by the total value of intact bound volumes.
Best Venue
Swann Auction Galleries or a specialized works-on-paper auction for immediate liquidation, or curated retail platforms (Chairish/1stDibs) to realize its full decorative value.
Upside Potential
Selling through a high-end interior design platform could realize the $600-$800 retail replacement value, leveraging the decorative framing and hand-coloring.
Authenticity Notice
Low/Medium risk. Buyers of antiquarian prints prioritize distinguishing original 16th/17th-century leaves from 19th-century reproductions. A physical examination under magnification should look for the presence or absence of a plate mark to confirm the gallery's 'copper plate' claim versus a traditional Coriolano woodcut, and to verify the paper's laid lines and age.
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