John Gould, Solomon Islands Zosterops, Rendova White-eye hand-coloured lithograph c1880

by Gould, John

John Gould Grey-throated White-eye from island of Makira (originally seen in Solomon Island of Rendova).

This is a lovely original hand-coloured lithograph, drawn and lithographed by Irish-born English artist, William Matthew Hart (1830-1908), who was chief artist for John Gould by 1870. This delightful ornithological study is for Gould's final work The Birds of New Guinea and the Adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia published in London between 1875 and 1888. These lovely gold-breasted birds on lavender flowers have beautiful hand-colour from the time of publication.

'The Bird Man' John Gould (1804-1881) was a brilliant ornithologist who devoted his life to the study of birds. Gould was also an astute business man and knew his limitations as an artist. Gould obtained subscribers to enable him to employ the finest lithographers to produce the highest quality of work for each of his grand publications. 

After Gould's death, publication of this work was completed by Gould's colleague, ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe who was in charge of the bird collection at the British Museum.

The page size is as issued, 535 x 370 mm (21 x 14.5 inches).