Fine Rare Prints

John Gould's Tropical Birds

Sepoy Finch

Haematospiza sipahi

Nepal

Sold - order #8306

Information

John Gould was the enterprising genius behind the creation of 2999 different hand­colored lithographic plates of birds and animals. He was born on September 14, 1804 on the Dorset coast in England. Gould had no formal university training and considered himself a self-made man. He gained his ornithological knowledge by observation and experience. Nevertheless his contributions to this science were so vast that in 1843 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
In his pursuit of new and different birds, John Gould traveled to Asia, Australia and the East Indies. His series of natural history plates is considered by many as the finest works of bird illustrations ever presented.
Making these prints was technically and artistically demanding. Gould's original sketches were transferred to stone with special pencils or chalk. They were printed by hand from the stones. Each print was hand-colored, and issued in small sets to subscribers only. As the prints were very expensive only a few hundred of the wealthiest people and institutions could afford them, accounting for their rarity today.

Date

This print is from a limited edition facsimile of the best of John Gould's tropical birds printed in Germany in 1955

Print method

Lithograph with shellac finishing. Blank on reverse.

Condition

Excellent condition. No foxing.

Size

16 by 11¾ inches (41 by 30 cm)

How to order

Please note the order number for this print which is shown at the top of the page. Then click on the Order button at the top or the Order link at the bottom of this page