John Gould Myzomela melanocephala and wonderful Lambertia formosa. c1880

by Gould, John

Australian Black-headed Honey-sucker on Lambertia, antique print.

Original hand-coloured lithograph by William Hart for John 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. 

'The Bird Man' John Gould (1804-1881) was a brilliant ornithologist who devoted his life to the study of birds. After Gould's death, publication of this work was completed by Gould's friend and colleague, ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe, who was in charge of the bird collection at the British Museum. John Gould had a fine eye for detail and knew his limitations as an artist. He obtained subscribers to each of his grand publications to assist with his finances, employed the finest lithographers of the day and closely monitored their work.

The illustration is a close-up of this stunning lithograph (which is much nicer than the scanned image). Page size, as issued, is 535 x 370 mm (21 x 14.5 inches). This lovely lithograph is currently mounted between conservation ragmat boards - the front of which has been hand-painted. Please email for pics.