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John Gould Tasmanian Mutton-birds. Australian Short-tailed Petrels, Puffinus brevicaudatus lithograph c1848

John Gould Tasmanian Mutton-birds. Australian Short-tailed Petrels, Puffinus brevicaudatus lithograph c1848

by Gould, John

Named Mutton Birds by early settlers on Norfolk Island, this Short-tailed Shearwater has been harvested by aborigines for centuries. The Mutton Bird is a good swimmer with webbed feet, and its metre wide wingspan and narrow wings assist in high speed flying and lengthy ocean flights. The tube-like nostrils along the upper side of its beak suggest it also has a sense of smell, and they mostly breed in burrows close to the coast.  

Original hand-coloured lithograph by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter for John Gould's “Birds of Australia ”. Published in London between 1840 and 1848, these are the finest illustrations ever done of Australian Birds. John Gould (1804-1881) was a brilliant ornithologist who devoted his life to the study of birds. He had a fine eye for detail, employed the best lithographers, and closely monitored their work. Also an astute business man, Gould obtained subscribers before commencing each of his grand publications that were illustrated with large and beautiful hand-coloured bird lithographs.

This lithograph is too large for our scanner. Please email us at sales@antiqueprintclub.com if you would like further pics. This antique print is in fine condition, and the size of the page is as issued, 535 mm x 370 mm (21 inches x 14.5 inches).

Stock Number: apJGa571Price: $595.00

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