Prints and Photographs and Bookplates

Australian Bristlebird (Dasyornis Australis) [Endangered] – Sir William Jardine – 1826

An original hand-coloured engraving of Bristlebird published in Edinburgh 1826 by Scotland’s greatest naturalist Sir William Jardine (1800-1874). This image is one of the earliest fine engravings of the bird. First found and described by Latham around Port Jackson in 1801.

The engraving was published as part of Jardine’s first great work “Illustrations in Ornithology” a now scarce and valuable collection of bird engravings. Printed on thick wove paper (30cm by 23cm) with a strong plate impression, good strong colouring and generally clean condition. Would frame up nicely for display.

The Bristlebirds are named after the stiff “’hair like” feathers that arise around the beak. They are thought to assist in catching insects upon which they feed and also provide protection to the eye. There are a number of sub-species of the Eastern, Rufous and Western Bristlebirds. Subclassifications of those number six of which one is extinct, one critically endangered and two endangered and the other two on the way. Bush fires and land clearing the main culprits.

Jardine was the 7th Baronet of Applegirth, Dumfriesshire and founder of the Ray Society. He was a superb artist in his own right but utilised the great illustrators of the day to complete his works including, Edward Lear, Selby, Stewart, Thompson and William Holmes-Lizars

Price $180.00 Unframed

Early engraving of the endangered Australian Bristlebird … help to save them

$120.00

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Tamarisk Gerbil – Original Hand Coloured Copper Engraving – Schreber 1775

A rare and delightful hand-coloured copper engraving of the desert living Tamarisk Gerbil by D.R. Nitschmann for Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber (1739-1810) published as part of his classic work on mammals “Die Saughthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen” published circa 1775.

Strong plate mark, paper size 28cm by 20cm. Engraving quality very fine with good strong original colouring. Very good condition.

Gerbils of course popular pets at one time … they have a habit of digging themselves into holes if let loose in the garden … so watch out for this fella.

Price $90.00 unframed

18thC engraving of the popular rather cute gerbil

$90.00

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Ada Aurantiaca (Orchid from South America) – Nugnet Finch for Warner 1882

Original hand finished lithograph printed from stone by John Nugent Finch for the illustrious Orchid Album by Warner and Moore and published by Benjamin Williams. This was from the first collection published in 1882. The work was not completed until 1887. Still regarded as the most complete and beautiful work on the spectacular orchid family.

This beautiful orchid hails from the mountains Colombia and Ecuador. It was first described and named by Voyager hero John Lindley in the 1850’s. They grow in warm damp forests around 2,000 metres.

A good size at 30cm x 24cm completely clean. the colours bright and enhanced with gum arabic.

Price $90.00 unframed

Spectacular Orchid from South America

$90.00

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Hobart Botanical Gardens -1840 Jardin Botanique D’Hobart-Town – Original Lithograph from the Voyage of Dumont d”Urville

An original lithograph from a drawing by Louis Le Breton (1818-1866) published as part of the great “Atlas Pittoresque” to accompany “Voyage au Pole Sud et dans l’Oceanie sur les corvettes l’Astrolabe et la Zelee … sous commandement de M.J. Dumont d’Urville”.

A detailed view of the botanical gardens looking back to the river Derwent with the French vessel at anchor sails furled. Teo typical Derwent river yachts of the era in sail.

Lithographed by P Blanchard on sturdy paper – 25 x 22cm to the edge of the image with very wide margin. Some handling and age marks in the wide margin, none on the lithograph itself – overall good condition. A scarce Hobart image.

Price $240.00 unframed – rare

Well executed image from the voyage of Dumont d’Urville.

$190.00

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The Life of Marco Polo – Liebig Advertising Cards

A complete group of six attractive trade cards by Liebig issued mid-20th Century. In Dutch – Het Leven Van Marco Polo – “The Life of Marco Polo”

Delightful images depicting various stages in the adventures of Marco Polo. Significant narrative, in Dutch, at the rear of each card … more than usual which makes for that special foreign language lesson.

Each 10cms x 7.3cms in very good condition.

Card 1 – First Departure for the East; 2 – The Roof of the World; 3 – Governor of Jaugia in Service of the Great Khan Koubilai; 4 – At the Head of the Victorious Army; 5 – The Battle of Cuzole; The recounting of his Travels – Il Milione.

Marco Polo – his Life in Beautiful Images

$50.00

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Great White-Crested Cockatoo – Greene – 1884

Original wood cut engraving of a beautiful Cockatoo from Parrots in Captivity published in London in 1884. It inhabits the rainforests of the Moluccas . He is a relative of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo. The male and female are almost identical.

Greene’s delightful work comprising wood-engraved plates printed by Benjamin Fawcett after drawings by A.F. Lydon. The prints are hand finished with delicate highlighting in gum arabic that makes the breast feathers shimmer in a most unusual way.

Benjamin Fawcett was one of the great colour printers of the 19th century. He pioneered a system of wood block engraving from multiple blocks that resulted in vivid finely coloured works. Fawcett had an association of some 50 years with Francis Orpen Morris to produce many beautiful works on birds. Greene’s Parrots in Captivity is an authoritative and studious work. The engravings are the finest of all the illustrations of parrots from the period.

Price $90.00 unframed and matted as shown. Very good condition. Mat dimensions 37cm by 29cm … cream textured mat board with french gold line. Archival materials.
Nice Cockatoo from the Eastern Regions of Indonesia

$90.00

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Australian Bristlebird (Dasyornis Australis) [Endangered] – Sir William Jardine – 1826

Tamarisk Gerbil – Original Hand Coloured Copper Engraving – Schreber 1775

Ada Aurantiaca (Orchid from South America) – Nugnet Finch for Warner 1882

Hobart Botanical Gardens -1840 Jardin Botanique D’Hobart-Town – Original Lithograph from the Voyage of Dumont d”Urville

The Life of Marco Polo – Liebig Advertising Cards

Great White-Crested Cockatoo – Greene – 1884

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