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William MacGillivray
Lepidoptera (Butterflies) /// Scottish Natural History Zoology Animal Engraving

1835-1840

About the Item

Artist: William MacGillivray (Scottish, 1796-1852) Title: "Lepidoptera (Butterflies)" (Plate XII) Portfolio: The Edinburgh Journal of Natural History, and of The Physical Sciences Year: 1835-1840 (First edition) Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving on wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Unknown, likely Edinburgh, UK Publisher: The Edinburgh Printing Company, Edinburgh, UK; John Smith and Son, John McLeod, Glasgow, UK; A. Brown and Co., Aberdeen, UK; Ainsworth and Sons, Manchester, UK; Thomas Ainsworth, Jr., Leeds, UK; Geroge Young, Dublin, UK; J. B. Balliere, Paris, France; and Smith, Elder, and Co., London, UK Reference: Nissen ZBI No. 4619; Wood page 328 Sheet size: 13.38" x 9.19" Condition: Minor toning to sheet and a faint mat stain in margins. Remnants of mounting tape from previous framing at top on verso. Has been professionally stored away for decades. It is otherwise in very good condition with strong colors Very rare Notes: Engraved by Scottish artist James Mayson (Active: Mid-19th Century) after a drawing by an unknown artist. Comes from MacGillivray's two volume "The Edinburgh Journal of Natural History, and of The Physical Sciences", (1835-1840) (First edition), which consists of 119 hand-colored engravings. Printed from one copper plate in one color: black. (Volume I) was published 1835-1839 and (Volume II) was published 1839-1840. Lepidoptera or lepidopterans is an order of winged insects that includes butterflies and moths. About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera have been described, representing 10% of the total described species of living organisms, making it the second largest insect order (behind Coleoptera) with 126 families and 46 superfamilies, and one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world. Biography: William MacGillivray FRSE (25 January 1796 – 4 September 1852) was a Scottish naturalist and ornithologist. MacGillivray was born in Old Aberdeen and brought up on Harris. He returned to Aberdeen where he studied Medicine at King's College, graduating MA in 1815. In Old Aberdeen he lived at 107 High Street. He then became an assistant Dissector in the Anatomy classes. In 1823 he became assistant to Robert Jameson, the Regius Professor of Natural History at the University of Edinburgh. He was curator of the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh from 1831, resigning in 1841 to become Regius Professor of Natural History at Marischal College, Aberdeen. MacGillivray was a friend of American bird expert John James Audubon, and wrote a large part of Audubon's Ornithological Biographies from 1830 to 1839. Audubon named MacGillivray's warbler for him. He died at 67 Crown Street in Aberdeen on 5 September 1852 but is buried in New Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh. The grave faces east onto the eastern path.
  • Creator:
    William MacGillivray (1796 - 1852, Scottish)
  • Creation Year:
    1835-1840
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13.38 in (33.99 cm)Width: 9.19 in (23.35 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    (Very Good).
  • Gallery Location:
    Saint Augustine, FL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU121214818122

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Greenshank (View of St. Augustine & Spanish Fort East Florida) /// Bird Audubon
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Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Greenshank (View of St. Augustine & Spanish Fort East Florida)" (Plate CCLXIX - 269; part No. 54) Portfolio: The Birds of America, Havell Edition Year: 1835 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Engraving with Aquatint on double-elephant folio, J. Whatman paper Limited edition: approx. 180 Printer: Robert Havell Jr., London, England Publisher: John James Audubon, London, England Framing: Recently framed in an ornate black and gold moulding with fabric rag matting and gold filet Framed size: 26.25" x 31.75" Sheet size: 21.75" x 27.25" Platemark size: 15" x 20.63" Image size: 12" x 18" Condition: The sheet is laid down to board. Light toning and discoloration to sheet. The occasional pinhole or faint surface abrasion. In otherwise good condition with good colors Rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - Denver, CO. Engraved, printed, and hand-colored by English artist Robert Havell Jr. (1793-1878). Comes from Audubon's monumental book volume "The Birds of America", (Havell Edition, 1827-1838), which consists of 435 hand-colored, life-size prints, made from engraved plates, with each sheet originally measuring around 39" x 26". The would be "J. Whatman 1835" watermark is likely missing due to its trimming. The composition was probably painted in England in 1835, using a preserved specimen. Since no other than Audubon has ever claimed to have seen this European...
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Set of Four Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by John Latham /// Bird UK
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Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: John Latham (English, 1740-1837) Title: "Kamtschatkan Thrush", "Spotted-sided Grosbeak", "Crimson-bellied Flycatcher", and "Black-headed Grosbeak" Portfolio: A General History of Birds Year: 1821-1828 (second edition) Medium: Set of Four Original Hand-Colored Engravings on watermarked wove paper Limited edition: Unknown Printer: Jacob & Johnson, Winchester, UK Publisher: John Latham, Winchester, UK Reference: Brunet III, 872; Lowndes II, page 1314; Fine Bird Books page 87; Nissen IVB 532; Zimmer page 376 Sheet size (each): approx. 11.25" x 8.88" Image size (each): approx. 4.5" x 4.5" Condition: "Kamtschatkan Thrush", "Crimson-bellied Flycatcher", and "Black-headed Grosbeak" have some light offsetting to their sheets. "Spotted-sided Grosbeak" has some minor foxmarks and some light discoloration upper left in margin. They are all otherwise in very good condition with strong colors Rare Notes: Provenance: acquired from Christie's, New York, NY, December 19, 1990. Comes from Latham's famous eleven volume portfolio "A General History of Birds" (1821-1828) (second edition), which consists of 193 hand-colored prints, made from engraved plates. "Kamtschatkan Thrush" and "Crimson-bellied Flycatcher" have an unidentified "1821" watermark lower right and upper right respectively. "Spotted-sided Grosbeak" has a "1820" watermark lower right. Biography: John Latham (27 June 1740 – 4 February 1837) was an English physician, naturalist and author. His main works were A General Synopsis of Birds (1781–1801) and General History of Birds (1821–1828). He was able to examine specimens of Australian birds...
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Set of Four Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by John Latham /// Bird UK
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Set of Four Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by John Latham /// Bird UK
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