Bird of Prey highlighted against uncoloured background c1848

by Goldsmith, Oliver

Antique print of a rather grand Falcon.

Original hand-coloured steel engraving for Goldsmith’s A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, published in London circa 1848 by A. Fullarton & Co., London and Edinburgh. Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) had intended to translate Pliny’s ‘Natural History’ but decided instead to compile his own work on all that was known about the planet and earth. The first edition of his eight volume work was published in London the year he died. It has been such a popular work that the illustrations have steadily grown in size and quality each re-issue over the years since. The beautiful hand-coloured illustrations of the 1848 edition were the finest.

Page has slight age discolouration - which is to be expected when early 200 ears old. Size approximately 250 x 165mm (9 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches).