Tropicbirds and Gulls: An 1849 Coastal Encounter - A Hand-Coloured Lithograph

Antique Bird Print of Northern Gannets on Cliffside at Sunset, 19th Century This beautifully composed 19th-century chromolithograph captures a trio of Northern Gannets (Morus bassan...

Cape Barren goose, Cereopsis novaehollandiae, and Snowy Sheathbill, Chionis albus. Handcoloured copperplate stipple engraving from Dumont de Sainte-Croix's "Dictionary of Natural Sci...

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...

Title: "Eider Ducks by the Sea: An 1863 Coastal Study" Description: This striking print, titled "Eider Ducks by the Sea," is a captivating piece from the "Book of Worlds," published...

'Marsh Tern and White Tern' Chromolithograph from Gracius Broinowski's 'The Birds of Australia' , 1887-1891. Gracius Joseph Broinowski (1837-1913)...

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

Artist: John Gould (English, 1804-1881) Title: "Larus Islandicus (Iceland Gull)" (Vol. 5, Plate 58) Portfolio: The Birds of Great Britain Year: 1862-1873 Medium: Original Hand-Colored Lithograph on wove paper Limited edition: approx. 750 Printer: Walter or Walter & Cohn, London, UK Publisher: Taylor and Francis, John Gould, London, UK Reference: Sauer No. 23; Ayer/Zimmer page 261; Wood page 365; Nissen No. IVB 372; Sitwell page 78 Sheet size: 14.57" x 21.57" Image size: 12" x 16.25" Condition: Soft handling creases to sheet. Remnants of mounting tape from previous framing at top on verso. In excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - Mount Vernon, IA. Lithography and hand-coloring by German artist Joseph Wolf (1820-1899) and Irish artist William Hart (1830-1908). Comes from Gould's five volume "The Birds of Great Britain", (1862-1873) (First edition), which consists of 367 hand-colored lithographs. Other contributing lithographers were John Gould and English artist Henry Constantine Richter (1821-1902) "The Birds of Great Britain" is recognized as Gould's greatest work. Comes with its original accompanying text page. Gold gilded edges as issued. The Iceland gull is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not in Iceland, where it is only seen during winter. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. Biography: John Gould FRS (14 September 1804 – 3 February 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. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Gould's work is referenced in Charles Darwin's book, "On the Origin of Species".

Albatross is an Etching hand colored realized by Gotthilf Heinrich von Schubert - Johann Friedrich Naumann, Illustration from Natural history of birds in pictures, published by Stutt...