Charles Méryon (1821-1868) Le Malingre cryptogame. 1860. Etching. 56 x 70. Delteil 66; Schneiderman 68. Beautiful and rare proof on "hudelist" watermarked laid paper, of the 2nd state (of 4), before the engraved background and before the letter, with the only monogram. Small white trace at the place of the erasure of an inscription. Small remnants of gummed paper at the edges of the folio on the reverse. Good margins. The original drawing dates from 1845. It is a study "after a mushroom whose bizarre and pleasing physiognomy had struck the young ensign in a forest on the Banks Peninsula (New Zealand). In 1845, the corvette Le Rhin was cruising in these waters to protect French whalers." (Ph. Burty, "L'œuvre de M. Charles Méryon", Gazette des Beaux-Arts, volume XV, 1863, p. 85).