Antique Bird Print of Northern Gannets on Cliffside at Sunset, 19th Century

This print, part of the distinguished "Svenska Fåglar Efter Naturen Och På Sten Ritade" series, depicts the Northern Gannet, known by its scientific name Sula bassana, or "Havssula" ...

Title: "Tropicbirds and Gulls: An 1849 Coastal Encounter" Description: This evocative print, titled "Tropicbirds and Gulls," is a detailed illustration from the "Book of Worlds," pu...

Antique Bird Print of Gulls on Rocky Coastline, 19th Century Seabirds This elegant 19th-century ornithological print features two species of gulls—Larus canus (Common Gull) and Larus argentatus (Herring Gull)—depicted in their summer plumage. The scene captures the birds standing on a rocky shoreline at dusk, with soft pink and blue hues painting the sky and reflecting across the calm water. The carefully rendered plumage, from the delicate layering of feathers to the subtle contrast between white underparts and grey wings, showcases both scientific accuracy and artistic sensitivity. The print comes from a later 19th-century German ornithological series, likely associated with the tradition of detailed bird studies stemming from the influence of Johann Friedrich Naumann. Naumann, a pioneering German ornithologist, played a central role in establishing bird study in Central Europe and inspired a generation of artists and naturalists who continued his legacy through richly illustrated field guides. This particular plate was produced using chromolithography, a technique that allowed for brilliant, nuanced coloration by printing with multiple stones, each inked in a different shade. The result is a lifelike and richly textured portrayal, not only capturing the likeness of the birds but also evoking the natural environment they inhabit. Prints such as this one served a dual purpose: as important scientific documents for ornithologists and collectors, and as decorative items for the cultured 19th-century interior. The serene coastal setting and precise detail make this work ideal for lovers of seabirds, antique scientific illustration...

Antique print titled 'Fou tachete, de Cayenne.' This print shows a northern gannet (Juv). Originates from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux', by Comte de Buffon, published in Paris f...

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Booby Gannet" (Plate 426, No. 86) Portfolio: The Birds of America, First Royal Octavo Edition Year: 1840-1844 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph on wove paper Limited edition: approx. 1,200 Printer: John T. Bowen, Philadelphia, PA Publisher: John James Audubon and J.B. Chevalier, New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA Sheet size: 10.38" x 6.75" Image size: 5.94" x 5.5" Condition: Two small tears at top edge. In otherwise excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - Seattle, WA. Lithography and hand-coloring by American artist John T. Bowen (1801-c.1856). Comes from Audubon's famous seven volume portfolio "The Birds of America", First Royal Octavo Edition (1840-1844), which consists of 500 hand-colored lithographs. Based on a composition painted May 14, 1832. Audubon wrote: "I am unable to find a good reason for those who have chosen to call these birds 'boobies'. Authors, it is true, generally represent them as extremely stupid; but to me the word is utterly inapplicable to any bird with which I am acquainted". The view of the Florida Keys is based on a drawing by George Lehman. The bird family Sulidae comprises the gannets and boobies. Collectively called sulids, they are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and similar prey. The 10 species in this family are often considered congeneric in older sources, placing all in the genus Sula. To make 'The Birds of America' more affordable and widely available, in 1839 John James Audubon began the first octavo edition, a smaller version of the folio which was printed and hand-colored by J. T. Bowen in Philadelphia. Employing a new invention, the camera lucida, the images were reduced in size, rendered in intermediate drawings by John James Audubon and his son John Woodhouse, and then drawn onto lithographic stones. These miniatures exhibit a remarkable amount of attention to quality and detail, as well as a meticulous fidelity to the larger works. Some compositional changes were made in order to accommodate the smaller format. Like the Havell edition, John James Audubon’s first...

Sea Birds Wood-engraving with original colouring. 1879. 160mm by 245mm (sheet). Key below the image. From Oliver Goldsmith's 'A History of the Earth and Animated Nature'.

Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Tropic Bird" (Plate CCLXII - 262; part No. 53) 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: Not framed, but matted in a handmade custom French matting Matted size: 30" x 38.75" Sheet size: 25.5" x 36" Platemark size: 20.75" x 30.25" Image size: 18.5" x 27.75" Condition: A few tiny foxmarks. In excellent condition with clean paper and strong colors Rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - New York, NY. 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". "J. Whatman 1835" watermark upper right. Based on a composition painted between 1832 and 1835. Audubon sailed the entire length of Florida, around the Keys and as far as the Dry Tortugas, from which, on another occasion, "The specimens - in the plate were taken - by my kind friend Robert Day, Esq. of the United States Revenue Cutter...

'Lesser Moddy and Moddy Tern' Chromolithograph from Gracius Broinowski's 'The Birds of Australia' , 1887-1891. Gracius Joseph Broinowski (1837-191...