French Country · Encyclopedia · Paintings, Posters and Prints
Botanical Print
Prints of plants and flowers.
Prints & Lithographs · Indicative US retail $30–$800
At a glance
- Family: Prints & Lithographs
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1750 to 1900.
- Typical price: about $120; range $30 to $800 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Hand-coloring, age
What it is
Botanical prints are illustrations of plants, flowers and fruit from scientific and decorative books of the 17th to 19th centuries. Pierre-Joseph Redouté's Les Liliacées and Les Roses, Basilius Besler's Hortus Eystettensis, Curtis's Botanical Magazine and countless French and German flora were engraved, often hand-colored with watercolor, and many have since been taken from their books and framed.
How to identify and date it
An original print has a plate mark (the impression of the copper plate) around the image, printed Latin and common names, plate numbers and the engraver's and artist's names in small type below. Hand-coloring shows watercolor pooling and slight variations from one copy to another; modern reproductions show a regular dot screen under a magnifier. Check for foxing, staining, trimmed margins and fading; good margins raise value.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1750 to 1900.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most botanical print examples ask around $120. Simple or worn pieces start near $30, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $800. The main value drivers are: hand-coloring, age. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Before you buy
- Check plate mark and dot screen
- Inspect margins and foxing
- Identify the book
Living with it
A grid of framed botanical prints in a dining room or along a staircase brings the garden indoors.
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How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.