Anonymous - Cacao Van Houten - Callithée - 1890s

Cacao Van Houten – Rare illustrated advertising postcard "Callithée" – Naturalistic Entomological Series – France / Netherlands – ca. 1895-1905

Fascinating and rare original advertising postcard dedicated to the famous Cacao Van Houten, belonging to the prestigious illustrated naturalistic series dedicated to lepidoptera and insects. This elegant late 19th-century chromolithography depicts several butterflies belonging to the Callithée group, characterized by vibrant colors, gracefully drawn wings, and particularly decorative shapes.

The illustration presents a suggestive natural scene with colorful butterflies immersed in lush aquatic vegetation.
The composition, rich in detail and executed with notable artistic quality, perfectly represents the aesthetic taste of Van Houten’s advertising productions of the era, today highly valued by collectors of historical advertising and chromolithographs.

On the front there is the inscription:
"CACAO VAN HOUTEN"

and the scientific title:
"CALLITHÉE"

On the back there is a descriptive text in French dedicated to the Callithée, belonging to the Nymphalidae group, with information on their characteristics, habitat and distribution, accompanied by the famous Van Houten cacao advertisement praising its nutritious qualities, easy digestibility and superiority compared to other beverages of the era.

The combination of scientific dissemination, illustrated art, and commercial advertising makes this specimen particularly interesting for collectors of advertising postcards, natural history, entomology, and Van Houten memorabilia.

Features
Type: illustrated advertising postcard
Brand: Van Houten
Producer: C.J. Van Houten & Zoon
Place of production: Weesp, Netherlands
Period: circa 1895-1905
Material: printed card stock
Technique: chromolithography in full color
Language: French
Front and back printing
Subject: Callithée (tropical butterflies of the Nymphalidae group)
Naturalistic entomological series
Original period advertising
Not mailed
Rarity: high

Dimensions
Height: approximately 9.5 cm
Width: approximately 14.5 cm

Conditions
Overall excellent conservation state considering the age of over one hundred years. Shows slight signs of aging compatible with the period, minimal edge and corner wear. Colors particularly bright and well preserved, print sharp and text fully legible. A very pleasing specimen from a collecting standpoint.

Please carefully view the photographs which constitute an integral part of the description.