Natural History

Falco Gallinarius (Northern Harrier) – Johann Susemihl – 1797 to 1810

Original and striking hand-coloured copper engraving of a Northern Harrier by Johann Conrad Susemihl (1767-1847).

Published in Darmmstadt as part of a progressive work “Teutsche Ornithologie oder Naturgeschichte … between 1797 and 1810.

The execution of this massive work was a family affair with Johann being assisted by his children Eduard and Emilie and his brother Johann Theodor. The superior quality and scale of these engravings makes them highly sought after.

Paper size 50cm by 34cm … the engraved impression is 34cm by 25cm …

Price $160.00 unframed … enquire about framing options if you wish … click on me to see me all!

The beautiful dignified Harrier by Susemihl

$160.00

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King Island Elephant Seal (Le Phoque a trompe) – Vauthier -1820

A scarce hand coloured copper engraving of the Elephant Seal “Le Phoque a trompe” named by Peron.

The Baudin expedition saw many Southern Elephant Seals around the Islands of the Bass Strait including King Island. Unfortunately, unable to defend themselves they were killed for their oil and by 1827 they were all gone from that location.

Printed on sturdy paper, 25cm by 17 cm, good use of gum arabic to strengthen the colour and provide depth. Good plate mark … a super example.

Engraved by Barreau after Vauthier and published in Paris in 1820.

Price $90.00 unframed

Rare original hand coloured King Island Elephant Seal engraving

$90.00

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Australian Fairywrens – Sir William Jardine – 1826

An original hand-coloured engraving of three species of Australian Fairywrens published in Edinburgh 1826 by Scotland’s greatest naturalist Sir William Jardine (1800-1874).

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 strong paper with a good plate mark, albeit a little tight on the left (32cm by 22cm). Very good condition.

Drawn by William Jardine himself and signed in the plate. This engraving and colouring have a somewhat naive nature which we think gives them a special artistic appeal.

We have the male Red Breasted Fairywren (Malarus Brownii); Variegated Fairywren (Malarus Lamberli) and the Superb Fairywren (Malarus Cyaneus). The Red Breasted is prevalent from the very North of Australia around the Kimberleys down to the Hunter Valley; the Variegated is found along the East Coast as is the Superb Fairywren although this beautiful creature is more common in the South and Tasmania

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

Australian Fairywrens – Three of Them

$120.00

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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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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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Falco Gallinarius (Northern Harrier) – Johann Susemihl – 1797 to 1810

King Island Elephant Seal (Le Phoque a trompe) – Vauthier -1820

Australian Fairywrens – Sir William Jardine – 1826

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

Tamarisk Gerbil – Original Hand Coloured Copper Engraving – Schreber 1775

Great White-Crested Cockatoo – Greene – 1884

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