Description: This is a rare original hand-painted lithograph of the Yellow Honeyeater (PTILOTIS FLAVA) from John Gould's "Birds of Australia" published between 1840 and 1848. This is Plate 42 from Volume 4 of the seven volume series. John Gould was Britain's foremost bird artist and his book of Australian birds was the first comprehensive survey detailing 681 species, 328 of which were new to science and were first described by Gould. The drawings on paper and stone of this particular species were carried out by John Gould in association with Henry Constantine Richter, and it was printed by C. Hullmandel. Dimensions: Paper size 21 3/4" x 14 1/2" (56.5 x 37 cm)Internal Mount mark - 50.5 x 34 cm Condition: Condition is fair with strong bright colours on the birds. This lithograph was framed sometime in the first half of the 20th Century, long enough to leave a darker tone below and along the internal edge of the mount. This could be hidden below a new archival quality mount. There are numerous tiny foxing spots, many of which are concentrated towards the centre of the image. They are not conspicuous unless you are viewing close-up. Brown paper tape is still present on the reverse from where the print was attached to the previous mount. I have reflected in the price the poorer condition of this print compared to the other four. Footnote: 'Birds of Australia' was issued in parts to subscribers - in all there were 250 subscribers so only 250 sets of the seven volume work were ever printed of which 175 are now accounted for in institutional collections. A complete set of original volumes sold at Bonhams in 2018 for £187,500 and individual plates commonly change hands for in excess of £500. "Gould's Birds of Australia remains the most comprehensive work ever produced on the subject. Comparatively few species have been added to the list of native Australian birds; at least two... have become extinct, and at least twenty species are on the verge of extinction or extremely rare. Gould's vast, lavish, hand-coloured volumes, with copious and detailed descriptions of every bird, provide a historical testimony and database for research, even today" (Tree, p.126).
Price: 195 GBP
Location: Tunbridge Wells
End Time: 2025-02-08T23:24:25.000Z
Shipping Cost: 52.17 GBP
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return postage will be paid by: Buyer
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 30 days
Production Technique: Lithograph
Listed By: Artist
Subject: Birds
Originality: Original
Size: Medium (up to 36in.)
Material: Paper
Colour: Multi-Colour
Print Surface: Paper
Image Orientation: Portrait
Date of Creation: Antique (Pre-1900)
Framing: Unframed
Artist: John Gould
Year of Production: 1848
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Style: Realism
Unit of Sale: Single Piece
Theme: Animals
Type: Print
