Description - This is an original hand-coloured lithograph after the sketch by John Gould for Birds of Australia, published in London between 1840 and 1848 by The Bird Man, John Gould. Today this series is still considered to be the finest work ever done on Australian birds. This image is in good condition. Unfortunately the digital photo does not do justice to the subtlety of the colour. The plate comes with the text page.
John Gould spent a life time publishing his works. He was not only a brilliant ornithologist, but also an artist and a very successful businessman. Whilst most people remember John Gould many would not know of his wife Elizabeth who in the early years did all of her husbands lithographs - drawing from nature and on stone. Gould also published hand-coloured lithographs of the Mammals of Australia in similar folio size.