Natural History

Rufous-bellied Pteruthius (Pteruthius Rufiventer) John Gould – The Birds of Asia

Original hand-coloured lithograph from Gould’s impressive “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London in 1856.

Executed by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter. Beautifully colouring and with gum Arabic highlights to the back, tail and eyes of the bird to give extra depth and contrast. A very good near fine example with the attendant descriptive page.

The now common name of the bird is the Black-headed Shrike-Babbler. At the time of this lithograph it had recently been discovered and named as a new species by Mr Blyth of Calcutta, India. He is still given that accolade. It was thought to be uncommon whilst it is found from Eastern Nepal through to Vietnam.

Price $390.00 unframed

Quality original John Gould Lithograph

$360.00

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Falco Pygargus the Hen-Harrier by Susemihl c1800

Original and striking hand-coloured copper engraving of a young female Hen 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 $190.00 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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Quality Scientific Model of a Hydra

A very good example of a hand painted biological model from the 1960’s. Now collectable and 1906 “scientifically decorative”.

The Hydra is a small fresh water animal with remarkable properties. These predatory little creatures possess radial symmetry and can be found in many un-polluted fresh water ponds. Multi-cellular and only a few millimetres long they lend themselves to microscopic study. They have an incredible regenerative capacity which makes them extremely interesting … they do not appear to age or die of old age.

The tubular body is secured by a sticky foot called the basal disc. At the other end a mouth opening is surrounded by a number of tentacles each of which is clothed in stinging cells (oouch!). The nasty bits explosively discharge a dart of neurotoxins into the prey sometimes in their hundreds (double ooouch!). They reproduce by growing “buds” on the body wall which become miniature Hydra that break away (convenient). They also have another more complex manner of reproduction when times get tough for food. All of this and more makes the Hydra a very interesting little beauty to study.

Hard to get quality model of the common but very mysterious everlasting Hydra

$240.00

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Speckled Ostracion – c1800 – by Shaw & Nodder

An original hand coloured copper engraving. A striking tropical fish that in various forms inhabits the world tropical waters … we understand a bit bony and therefore difficult to each … perhaps that is why he looks so pretty

George Shaw was in charge of the Natural History Department at the British Museum. Nodder was a natural history artist and worked for Banks on his Florilegium.

Price $260.00 framed in cream mat with black core and gilt frame. Enquire if you would like this item unframed.

Fishy beauty from tropical climes … click on me to see all my fishy beauty

$190.00

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Silver-Crowned Friar Bird (Tropidorhynchus Argenticeps) John Gould – Birds of Australia

Original hand-coloured lithograph (from stone) from Gould’s major work “Birds of Australia” of the Silver-Crowned Friar Bird (now classified Philemon Argenticeps). This work by John and Elizabeth and completed in London between 1840 -1848.

Gould remarks that this new species was provided by Benjamin Bynoe, Surgeon of HMS Beagle who provided them to Gould when Gould visited Sydney. Subsequently, other examples have been provided by Captain Grey following his expeditions.

Original John Gould lithographs are all of a uniform size approx 53.5 cm by 37.5 cm. This item is accompanied by its related description page which assists with provenance. This is sometimes separated from the original work.

Price $490.00 unframed. Enquire about framing options if you wish. Freight is not an issue either way …

Nicely executed Gould Original

$360.00

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A Cave on Enderby Island -The Auckland Islands (Sub-Antarctic) – Louis Le Breton for Dumont d’Urville – 1840

Grotte Sur L’isle Enderby – Isles Auckland.

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 a cave on Enderby with indigenous birds and a small boat with figures in the foreground. Dumont d’Urville’s ships the Astrolabe and the Zelee can be seen in the background. Incidentally it was one of three scientific expeditions to visit the islands that year, the American Wilkes expedition and also that of Britain Sir James Clark Ross

Lithographed by P Blanchard. A sizeable image on sturdy paper – 35 x 21cm to the edge of the image with very wide margin. Some light marks more towards the edge of the wide margin, none on the lithograph itself as can be seen from the scan – overall in pretty good condition.

The Auckland Islands are 465 kms south of the South Island of New Zealand. Enderby is a smaller island in the group to the Northern tip of the main Auckland Island. There are no permanent inhabitants. They are a World Heritage site and classifies as sub-Antarctic. They were first discovered by Bristow in 1806 on a whaling voyage. He named them after William Eden, Baron Auckland. He also named Enderby Island the subject of this image after Samuel Enderby who sponsored his voyage.

Good early image of sub-Antarctic Enderby in the Aucklands

$120.00

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Rufous-bellied Pteruthius (Pteruthius Rufiventer) John Gould – The Birds of Asia

Falco Pygargus the Hen-Harrier by Susemihl c1800

Quality Scientific Model of a Hydra

Speckled Ostracion – c1800 – by Shaw & Nodder

Silver-Crowned Friar Bird (Tropidorhynchus Argenticeps) John Gould – Birds of Australia

A Cave on Enderby Island -The Auckland Islands (Sub-Antarctic) – Louis Le Breton for Dumont d’Urville – 1840

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