1847 GOLD WASHING in BRAZIL, South America - Black and white steel engraving “Payne’s Universum - The Pictorial World”

This authentic 1847 steel engraving from "Payne's Universum" depicts gold washing operations in Brazil with the intricate detail and historical precision that defined Albert Henry Payne's celebrated 19th-century pictorial survey of world landmarks and industries. The black and white plate captures a specific moment in South American economic history, accompanied by descriptive text that contextualizes the scene. A genuine collectible original, this piece offers both artistic merit and a window into how the 19th century documented the wider world.