He initially made himself known through lithography, then began illustrating books with arabesques, vignettes and figure drawings.
He illustrated Luther's Small Catechism, Der Pilgerfahrt der Blumengeister (Pilgrimage of the Flower Spirits) by Adolf Böttger, Quickborn by Klaus Groth, Hannchen und die Küchlein (Hanna and the Cakes) by Christian August Gottlob Eberhard, Hanne Nüte by Fritz Reuter, and 50 Fabeln für Kinder (Fifty Fables for Children) by Wilhelm Hey [de], which was translated into English, by Mary Howitt.
Their son, Hans Speckter [de], also became an illustrator, but died in a mental institution at an early age.
In 2019, his works were part of an exhibition; "Hamburger Schule – Das 19.
Jahrhundert neu entdeckt", held at the Hamburger Kunsthalle.