u/OkEffective6428

I own these three matching framed panels and am located in San Francisco. Together they contain 12 hand-colored botanical illustrations. Based on the French headings, I believe they may be leaves from Jacques Daléchamps’s Histoire générale des plantes, possibly the 1615 or 1653 edition. Some pages say “Tome premier,” and reverse-side printing is visible through the paper.

I have not opened the frames, so I cannot confirm whether the sheets are genuine antique book leaves, later impressions, or reproductions. I’m also unsure whether the coloring is period or later. All three panels were custom-framed by Manasek of San Francisco, and the label is shown in the last photo.

What would be a reasonable value range for the complete three-panel set if the leaves are authentic, and what would the decorative value likely be if they are later reproductions?

I’m in San Francisco and have three matching framed panels containing 12 hand-colored botanical illustrations. From the French headings, I believe they may come from Jacques Daléchamps’s Histoire générale des plantes, possibly the 1615 or 1653 edition. Some pages say “Tome premier,” and printing from the reverse side is visible through the paper.

The sheets show fibers, uneven discoloration, and closely cropped edges, but I have not opened the frames. Can anyone help determine whether these are genuine antique book leaves, later impressions, or decorative reproductions—and whether the coloring appears old or was added later? The panels were framed by Manasek of San Francisco; the label is included in the last photo.

I have three matching framed panels containing 12 hand-colored botanical illustrations on paper. I’m located in San Francisco, California.

From the French headings, I believe the illustrations come from Jacques Daléchamps’s Histoire générale des plantes, possibly the 1615 or 1653 edition. Some pages say “Tome premier,” and printing from the reverse side can be seen through the paper.

The pages have visible fibers, uneven discoloration, and closely cropped edges, but I have not opened the frames. I therefore can’t determine whether they are genuine antique book leaves, later impressions, or reproductions made to resemble old paper. I’m also unsure whether the coloring is old or was added much later.

All three panels were custom-framed by Manasek of San Francisco, an art-supply and framing company established in 1957. The original label remains attached to the back of at least one panel.

I would appreciate any opinions about:

1. Whether the paper and printing look consistent with original 17th-century woodcut book leaves
2. Whether the coloring appears period or later
3. Whether I should have a conservation framer open one panel for further examination
4. A reasonable value range for the complete three-panel set if the leaves are authentic

I’m not offering them for sale here—just trying to learn what I have before doing anything that might damage them. Thank you!