Lot of 10 Australian Bird Prints

Lot of 10 Australian Bird Prints
Red Shouldered Parrakeet from Philip:

This first edition engraving is from Arthur Phillip's The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay; with an Account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island. The work was published in London in 1789. This work was a classic account of the first western settlement in Australia.

Rodney Davidson considered the work "the authentic record of the first settlement the work's importance cannot be over-emphasised, and no collection can be complete without a copy." The text describes early expeditions into the interior around Botany Bay and Port Jackson, and the earliest coastal exploration. The natural history plates are mostly after drawings and possibly specimens sent back to London by John White.
"Phillip was given the task of founding a convict settlement in Australia, and became the first governor of New South Wales. Reaching Botany Bay in 1788, Via Tenerife, Rio de Janiero and the Cape of Good Hope, Phillip decided that the site was unsatisfactory and sailed to Port Jackson, where he founded the city named Sydney, after Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, secretary of state." (Hill)


New Holland Darter from Diggles:

This lovely, originally hand-colored lithograph is from Silvester Diggles's Companion to Gould's Handbook; or, synopsis of the birds of Australia containing nearly one-third of the whole, or about 220 examples, for the most part from the original drawings of Sylvester Diggles.. This is the second edition of the work and was published in Brisbane by Thorne & Greenwell in 1877. The lithographs were completed by Henry Green Eaton, who was a transported convict from England.

This was the most ambitious hand-colored work published in Australia. It illustrated over 200 native Australian birds. "The plates and text were originally published in parts between 1866 and 1870 under the title The Ornithology of Australia. Financial crisis and a subsequent drop in subscriber numbers meant Diggles was not able to complete the ornithology to his satisfaction, and by 1877 felt that the series was 'as complete as it probably ever will be.' As a result, the work was reissued in its definitive form with new title..." (Wantrup)

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) was a pioneering Australian naturalist with particular interest in birds and insects. He emigrated from Great Britain in the 1850s. He helped found the Queensland Philosphical Society in 1859, the first scientific institution in Australia. He also helped establish the Queensland Museum.


Lithographs from Gould including:
Australian Coot
Hill Crow-Shrike
Owlet Nightjar
White-bellied Owlet-Nightjar
Australian Swift
Fairy Martin
Wood Swallow
Australian Spine-tailed Swallow

This hand-colored folio lithograph is from the esteemed John Gould’s Birds of Australia. The work was published in London by Richard and John E. Taylor for the author between 1840 and 1869. Over 300 new species of Australian birds were identified through the production of this work, and it remains one of the most comprehensive works on Australian ornithology. It is believed only 250 sets were printed of this work.

John Gould's first work in connection with Australian birds was A Synopsis of the Birds of Australia and the Adjacent Islands. This work likely served as a teaser to drive up subscriptions for the work presented here, Birds of Australia. Both works were considered the height of Elizabeth Gould's artistry as she had begun working with Edward Lear who truly helped enhance her remarkable skill. The production of this work lead to Gould being considered the 'father of Australian ornithology.'

Originally the Goulds relied on Elizabeth's brothers to send back specimens, but John Gould realized to properly complete the work he would need to observe the birds in person. The couple moved to Australia in May of 1838. John explored Tasmania, New South Wales, and Australia's interior. Elizabeth stayed on the coast and produced over 600 drawings. John wrote to Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, “The interval spent from my native shores were some of the happiest days of my life ... The results of my journey cannot, I think, but be attended with great advantage to science.” Sauer noted that “Great as is the excellence of Mr. Gould's former publications, there can be no doubt that the present work exceeds them all.” (Sauer)

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: ~ 10 1/8" by 8"
~ 10 1/4" by 14 3/4"
~ 14 5/8" by 21 7/8"

The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
~ 10 1/8" by 8"
~ 10 1/4" by 14 3/4"
~ 14 5/8" by 21 7/8"