This rare pair of original 19th-century hand-colored lithographs features South American ethnographic subjects titled "Flower-woman" and "Chicharia." These plates were created by Alfred Thomas Agate, the official artist for the historic United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842, led by Captain Charles Wilkes. As the first major maritime scientific mission funded by the U.S. government, the expedition's visual records are highly regarded for their artistic quality and historical accuracy in documenting global cultures.

The prints are accompanied by a vintage descriptive card from John Howell-Books of San Francisco, a legendary name in the world of antiquarian books and fine prints. This card provides significant provenance, acting as a professional guarantee of authenticity from one of the most prestigious book dealers of the 20th century. Both lithographs retain vibrant hand-applied coloring and exhibit the natural toning and light foxing consistent with genuine mid-1800s paper, adding to their period character. This pair offers a unique opportunity for collectors of maritime history, Western Americana, or fine 19th-century botanical and costume art to own a piece of early American scientific exploration.