Antique Hand-Coloured Bird Print of the Ruffed Bustard, 1832

About the Item

Description: Antique bird print titled 'Ruffed Bustard (Otis houbara).' - This plate shows the houbara bustard or North African houbara (Chlamydotis undulata). Expertly hand-coloured. John Gould: "Birds of Europe". 1832–1837, 5 vols. Drawn from nature & on stone by J. & E. Gould. Printed by Hullmandel. Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds living mainly in dry grassland areas and on the steppes of the Old World. They range in length from 40 to 150 cm (16 to 59 in). They make up the family Otididae. Bustards are omnivorous and opportunistic, eating leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, small vertebrates, and invertebrates.[1] There are 26 species currently recognised. Artists and Engravers: John Gould (1804 - 1881) was an English ornithologist and bird artist. He published a number of monographs on birds, illustrated by plates that he produced with the assistance of his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists including Edward Lear, Henry Constantine Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Matthew Hart. He has been considered the father of bird study in Australia and the Gould League in Australia is named after him. Gould portrayed birds native to Europe in a manner that had only been thought appropriate for the colorful species of distant places. In this way he managed to draw much popular interest back to native birds, which were suddenly considered equally beautiful to exotic species. Condition: Good, given age. Edges with an occasional small tear. A few tiny unobtrusive spots. Bottom edge several tiny holes from binding, top edge 4 holes; will all frame out. Light text ghosting. Top edge slightly browned. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study image carefully.

Dimensions:

Height: 13.04 in (33.1 cm)Width: 21.97 in (55.8 cm)Depth: 0 in (0.02 mm)

Materials and Techniques:

Paper

Period:

1830-1839

Date of Manufacture:

1832

Condition:

Seller Location:

Langweer, NL

Reference Number: