Gould - 4 Bird of Prey Lithographs

Gould - 4 Bird of Prey Lithographs
Included in this lot from Birds of Europe:

Lesser Kestril
Scops-eared Owl
Sparrow Owl


Description of the work:

This remarkable ornithology lithograph with hand-finished color is from the esteemed John Gould’s The Birds of Europe. The work was published in London between 1832 and 1837.

John Gould created nearly 3000 hand-colored plates of animals in his extensive career. Gould gained much of his knowledge by observation and experience and contributed greatly to scientific knowledge at the time. Gould is believed to have done the original sketches for all of the plates.

The majority of this work is believed to have been drawn and lithographed by Elizabeth Gould. It was also the first time Gould employed the masterful Edward Lear. "There is no doubt that Edward Lear was the first person to understand the art of lithography, and to use it to its fullest potential. It was a legacy that granted the fabled works of Gould their success, and took them into the forefront of nineteenth-century illustration" (Tree). Of Lear's lithographs: "they are certainly among the most remarkable bird drawings ever made, … it is evident that Lear endowed them with some measure of his own whimsy and intelligence, his energetic curiosity, his self-conscious clumsiness and his unselfconscious charm." (Hyman)



Included in this lot from Birds of Great Britain:

Black Kite


Description of the work:

This remarkable folio lithograph with hand-finished color is from the esteemed John Gould’s Birds of Great Britain published between 1862 and 1873. This is an earlier printing of the work before the plate for the Snowy Owl was cracked.

Birds of Great Britain allowed Gould to cultivate his aesthetic style. He created very appealing compositions often featuring nests and young with the adult species and intricate backgrounds. Gould realized that the artistry would make this work far more intriguing than its predecessor Birds of Europe and thus introduced 750 copies. Birds of Great Britain remains vastly popular today. John Gould created nearly 3000 hand-colored plates of animals in his extensive career. Gould gained much of his knowledge by observation and experience and contributed greatly to scientific knowledge at the time. Gould is believed to have done the original sketches for all of the plates. He utilized many talented artists to help create the finished lithograph including his wife Elizabeth Coxen Gould, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf, William Hart, and H. C. Richter. Even at the time of publication, Gould’s plates were very expensive and only sold to a small set of subscribers. Due to the limited subscriber list, the plates remain rare and of high value for collectors today.


Paper Size ~ 14 1/2" by 21 1/2"

The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There is an archival mounting strip at the verso of the right edge of the scops-eared owl. There may be a few minor marks or imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions. - No text available for Black Kite & Sparrow Owl
~ 14 1/2" by 21 1/2"