Oliver Goldsmith, Long-eared Owl engraving. Original colour, c1848.

by Goldsmith, Oliver

Gorgeous Long-eared Owl antique print. Oliver Goldsmith c1848.

Original hand-coloured steel engraving for Goldsmith’s A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, published in London circa 1848 by A. Fullarton & Company. 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, but with beautiful hand-coloured illustrations it was a popular publication and has been re-issued a number of times over the years since then. In fact, Goldsmith's eight-volume work has this year been is today considered the whole publication has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it!

This antique print is in good condition except for slight ageing of the paper and slight soiling of external edges. Page, 255 x 165mm (10 x 6.5 inches).