Gould Antique Print Birds of Great Britain Grey Wagtail

Antiques : Prints

 

John Gould Birds Lithograph Calobates Sulphurea (Grey Wagtail) from "BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN" 1862-1873

Information

This beautiful hand-colored lithograph, Calobates Sulphurea (Grey Wagtail) is from John Gould’s BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN (1862-1873). Published by Wm. Hart, H. C. Richter and Joseph Wolf from drawings by Hart, Richter, Gould and Wolf, it is universally recognized as being the finest and most comprehensive record of native birds at that time. This mammoth work featured illustrations of 367 different British birds, many of whom are also indigenous to North America.

John Gould (1804-1881) was often called “the Bird Man” and his lifetime work comprised more than 40 volumes with more than 3,000 hand colored plates. A distinguished British naturalist, he learned taxidermy at Windsor Castle where his father was foreman of gardeners.. In 1827 he became taxidermist to the Zoological Society of London. Shortly after he married Elizabeth Coxen, 1827, Gould acquired a collection of bird skins from the Himalayas. After he stuffed and mounted them, he became aware of their artistic possibilities and his career as a bird illustrator began. Elizabeth helped draw, lithograph and color many of the first plates.

The only artist to rival Audubon, Gould’s output was much more prolific. He was often called the “British Audubon.” His prints are masterful in design and composition and are known for detail, accuracy and beautiful hand coloring.

Size and Condition

This lithograph shows this bird in winter plumage with bright yellow on the underside and part of the tail and blue gray on the upper part of the body. The condition is good with a few tiny spots and evidence of the original book binding is on the bottom. Size is approximately 14 ½” x 21 ¼”. As a bonus, the original text is included.

Item ID: 0001069