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As is traditional at this time of year, I’ve put together a small selection from our to tempt you in the buildup to the festive period. Among my favourites for 2026 are a heavenly glow, interference spectra, and an early example of colour printing, along with a couple of natural history crowd pleasers to light up your Christmas.

‘Cloud shadows, noon’: chromolithograph after a painting by Eduard Pechuel-Loesche ()

This atmospheric image is a study of a lighting effect caused by the 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa. A chromolithograph of clouds, the picture features in a work by German physicist , who conducted investigations into the optical phenomena caused by the eruption, publishing them in 1888 as . The chromolithographs in Kiessling’s portfolio were done from original observations by the German naturalist , who was an accomplished watercolourist.

Interference spectra by Albert Abraham Michelson, 1903 ()

Kiessling observed that this ‘cloud shadow’ effect was caused by diffraction rather than refraction, linking it to my next image: interference spectra by the American physicist . This vibrantly beautiful lithograph, from Michelson’s 1903 book , represents the spectrum produced by sunlight passing through a coarse diffraction grating.

Shells by Jacques Fabien Gautier d’Agoty, 1743 ()

For an early example of colour printing, this mezzotint of shells was created by the French anatomist and printmaker . Gautier was a disciple of , the pioneer of colour engraving, and went on to improve the process with the introduction of black to the three primaries, to create full colour impressions with a mixture of inks from different plates. His ‘very curious draughts of shells which were illuminated … in their proper colours’, from which this print survives, were .

‘Le Vaneau, gris de fer’ (curlew sandpiper) by Peter Ascanius, 1772 ()

For the ornithologists among you, this charming study of a curlew sandpiper is taken from (1772), a work by the Norwegian zoologist . The feathers of this little wading bird change with the seasons, and this specimen is shown in its breeding plumage with rusty coral underparts, a nice alternative for Christmas to our more common red-breasted friend.

Botanical study of the Maxillaria orchid by Arthur Harry Church, 1907 ()

Finally, though I could have chosen from hundreds of botanical studies, an original watercolour by is my personal favourite. Church shows the delicate tiger markings of the Maxillaria orchid along with the internal structure of the flower, combining scientific accuracy with an artist’s eye for composition and colour. Produced at the height of , it would make the perfect gift for anyone still suffering from this botanical delirium today.

Every print from our is made to order, and with new updates in our distribution to more locations across the globe, it’s now cheaper and quicker than ever to purchase our images if you’re based outside the UK. Please see our over the festive period, and have fun purchasing the perfect present in time for Christmas!