North American Jerfalcon. Falco Labradorus, previously Labrador Falcon, c1876.

by Keulemans, John Gerrard

Superb adult North American Falcon. Keulemans hand-colored lithograph.

Original hand-coloured lithograph by brilliant Dutch bird illustrator, John Gerrard Keulemans (1842-1912). This beautiful lithograph was produced for Henry Eeles Dresser’s History of the Birds of Europe published in London between 1871 and 1876. Many of the birds were recent discoveries from around the world.

Keulemans became the finest nature lithographer of his time, with accurate anatomy and sensitive portrayal. Born to a family of milliners when magnificent hat creations meant feathers were in demand, Keulemans became fascinated in birds from an early age. He was fortunate to meet Dr Hermann Schlegel, the Director of the Rijksmuseum of Natural History at Leyden, who encouraged Keulemans to study anatomy and the scientific representation of birds. J.G. Keulemans became so skilled in lithography that he often drew his subject directly onto the lithographic stone plate. After encouragement from John Gould’s colleague Richard Bowdler-Sharpe, in 1869 Keulemans moved to London which was the centre for the grandest hand-illustrated natural history publications.

Size, as published: 31.5 cm x 25 cm (12 3/8 inches x 9 7/8 inches).