SOLD Lepidopterine Mite, Surrealesque 1790 Shaw and Nodder Hand-colored Copper Engraving old vice with the white looking perhaps

with the white looking perhaps to be tempera paint

with just a tiny bit of chipping to the plate in one spot on the rim

Drawing size (visible) is 6 7/8" x 4 5/8"

Surely some fading to the ink and general toning to the paper

SOLD Lepidopterine Mite, Surrealesque 1790 Shaw and Nodder Hand-colored Copper Engraving old vice with the white looking perhapsThis is a hand colored Shaw and Nodder copper engraving of a Lepidopterine Mite. As I understand it, these mites specifically targets the tympanic membranes (ears) of owlet moths, invading and breed in the moth's ear. And only one ear of the moth, leaving the moth with one functional ear, allowing it to still hear and evade predators, and ensuring the host (and the mite) survives Amazing. And, as rendered here, it looks like a completely surreal,