John Gould Stercorarius Parasiticus, Gould Arctic Skuas with chics. Lithograph c1863-73

by Gould, John

Antique Print of John Gould Arctic Skua, Stercorarius Parasiticus, c1873.

Original hand-coloured lithograph for Gould's 'Birds of Great Britain' published between 1862 and 1873. This is a particularly fine illustration from what is still considered to be the finest work ever done on British birds.

At 26 years of age (assisted by his artist wife Elizabeth Gould who created many of the lithographs for her husband's grand publications), John Gould began the 80 hand-coloured lithographs for his first folio-size work "A Century of Birds of the Himalayan Mountains" published during 1831 and 1832.

Between 1832 and 1837 Gould published "Birds of Europe". He adapted some of the lithographic plates of these birds by including the young and birds nests for the "Birds of Great Britain" which was the most comprehensive illustration of British birds at the time of publication. The lithographs were certainly the grandest that have ever been done of the birds of the U.K. and have coveted ever since they were published.

The digital picture does not do it justice. In good condition, this original antique print measures 535 x 370mm (21 x 14.5 inches), as published.