French Apple and
Apricot Prints

Background:

These beautiful hand-colored prints are from the mid-1800s French pomological journal Les Fruits Cultives en France (Fruits Cultivated in France).  Issued in monthly installments, the accompanying text page provides a history on the origin of different varieties of fruit, synonyms and description.  Apple and Apricot prints from the series are featured on this page.

The prints are noteworthy both for the detail shown for each fruit (whole and sectional views, as well as the leaf structure) and fine level of hand-coloring done to the original lithographic print.