Curtis Botanical – Plate 8314 – Antarctic Beech / Ñire

Original antique black-and-white botanical print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine — Plate 8314.

Plant: Nothofagus antarctica var. Uliginosa (Antarctic Beech / Ñire). Native to: Patagonia / Tierra del Fuego (southernmost South America).

The southernmost beech tree on Earth. Its simultaneous presence in South America, Australia, and New Zealand is physical evidence of Gondwana — the ancient supercontinent. Turns brilliant orange and red in the sub-Antarctic autumn wind at the tip of the world.

Printed in London. Each print is an original page removed from a bound volume of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, the world's oldest continuously published botanical journal (founded 1787). Uncolored plate. Sold individually. Minor age-related toning consistent with 19th-century paper.

This is an original uncolored (plain) plate from leftover publisher stock of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, printed in London. It was issued uncolored and never bound. We bought the holding at the estate of a Chicago rare bookseller. Labels and stock papers from the British dealer Wheldon & Wesley came with it. Library stamps, when present, are noted on the listing.