Northern Diver

21x 13 cm (8.5 x 5.25 inches)
Colymbus glacialis

This is a hand colored engraving made in 1794 from the Comte de Buffon's English edition of Natural History. Buffon's works influenced the next two generations of naturalists, including Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Georges Cuvier. It has been said that "Truly, Buffon was the father of all thought in natural history in the second half of the 18th century." The print was made by copper plate engraving, has fine details and delicate hand coloring. The paper is creamy white, in good condition apart from light foxing around the margins and is blank on the reverse side.