Thomas Kirk

Thomas Kirk (1828-1898) created these beautiful lithographs about New Zealand forest flora.

New Zealand is famous for its diverse and beautiful forests. For example, the Waitakere ranges have more tree species than the whole of Northern Europe.

Kirk was born in Warwick, England, educated in Coventry, and worked at Newark's timber mills. In 1863 he emigrated to New Zealand and devoted himself to botany.

He became curator of the museum, a fellow of the Linnaean Society and chief conservator of state forests. The govenrment published Kirk's Forest Flora of New Zealand in 1889.

Here are some of its lithographs you to choose from. They are genuine antique prints, made in 1889.