Charadrius Australis. Dotterel from inland Australia. Mathews lithograph, c1910-27

by Groenvold, Henrik

Antique print of Australian Dotterel with beautiful markings of bird from arid country.

Original hand-coloured lithograph by Danish natural history artist Henrik Gronvold (1858-1940) for Gregory Macalister Mathews' Birds of Australia by Gregory Macalister Mathews (1876-1949), published in London between 1910 and 1927 . This lovely antique print is from one of last-published grand works that were illustrated with hand-coloured lithographs. Hand-coloured lithography might have a personal artistry to its finish, but it was an expensive, skilled, labour-intensive printing process.

Gregory Macalister Mathews (1876-1949), was born in northern New South Wales and educated at Singleton Grammar and King's School, Paramatta. Dr Richard Bowdler Sharpe of the British Museum (who had worked with 'The Bird Man' John Gould) suggested Mathews produce a work on Australian birds, and guided Mathews who had no scientific training, in his work. Mathews' The Birds of Australia took 16 years to complete, with Mathews working very long hours. He was greatly assisted by Tom Ireland, until Ireland left for Australia in 1923.

Page size is 345mm x 247mm (13.5/8 x 9 3/4 inches). Light ageing of this page, slight bumping along top edge and damage to lower edge corner of page.