Australian Western Thornbill, Acanthiza apicalis. John Gould lithograph c1848

by Gould, John

Now Inland Thornbills or Broad-tailed Thornbills, antique print. 

Original hand-coloured lithograph by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter for Gould's The Birds of Australia (the finest series ever done on Australian Birds), published in London between 1840 and 1848 by 'The Bird Man', John Gould (1804-1881).

John Gould was a brilliant ornithologist who devoted his life to the study of birds. Gould obtained subscribers to enable his publication of superb hand-coloured lithographs of birds of the world. He employed the best lithographers of the day and closely monitored their work. Gould's artist wife Elizabeth Coxen (1804-1841) was coached in lithography by Edward Lear. Elizabeth Gould came to Australia with her husband, remained in Tasmania with two of their children, and worked on the sketches her husband sent from his travels around Australia searching for, collecting and sketching birds and their habitats. Elizabeth Gould completed over 600 bird lithographs for her husband's grand works. She died at the age of 37, following the birth of their fifth child after their return to England from Australia.

This is a charming original John Gould antique print in fine condition except for a few small spots at the top right extremity of the paper. Size: 535 x 370mm (21 x 14.5 inches).