Antique Prints, Maps, & Books of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 227:
Description
Included in this lot:
Necklaced Pitta [Pitta Arquata]
Blue-tailed or Java Banded Pitta [Eucichla Cyanura or Pitta Cyanura]
Bornean Pitta [Pitta Granatina]
Description of the work:
This remarkable ornithology lithograph with hand-finished color is from the esteemed John Gould’s
Birds of Asia published in London between 1850 and 1883.
Henry Sotheran & Co purchased all of the remaining plates from the Gould estate including the ‘pattern plate’ presented here. This plate was specifically used as the original reference for Gould’s colorist to produce the rest of the work. It is a unique opportunity to own a an important part of the production process of Gould’s works.
Birds of Asia.
Birds of Asia featured some of the most vibrant varieties of birds to be found around the world due to the wide reaching natural fauna of the expansive geographical region. The work took thirty-four years to complete and is considered one of Gould’s greatest accomplishments.
Trogons, Kingfishers, Sunbirds, Woodpeckers, Pheasants, and Parrots are all featured in the bountiful work. The backgrounds should also be given particular note, as it was clear Gould was especially drawn to the natural flora and delineated the bird’s surroundings with great detail.
John Gould created nearly 3000 hand-colored plates of animals in his extensive career. Gould gained much of his knowledge by observation and experience and contributed greatly to scientific knowledge at the time. Gould is believed to have done the original sketches for all of the plates. He utilized many talented artists to help create the finished lithograph including his wife Elizabeth Coxen Gould, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf, William Hart, and H. C. Richter. Even at the time of publication, Gould’s plates were very expensive and only sold to a small set of subscribers. Due to the limited subscriber list, the plates remain rare and of high value for collectors today.
Paper Size: ~ 14 3/4" by 21 1/2"
Paper Type or Special Features: Originally Hand-colored Lithograph
Condition report:
The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. Occasionally a previous owner has pencilled English names or notations below the nomeclature or near the edges. There sometimes is occasional faint text offset or minor imperfections or fox marks to be expected with age with this work. There may be some faint handling at the edges. Occassionally on the plates there will be a Sotheran Booksellers stamp to verso corner without bleed through. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions. - No text available (issued without as this was a pattern plate used for guidance in coloring the set, very special example, never bound)
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