John Gould Australian White-quilled Rock Doves, Petrophassa albipennis c1848.

by Gould, John

Now, Australian Rock Pigeons. John Gould antique print.

Original hand-coloured lithograph by Henry Constantine Richter (1821-1902) from a drawing by 'the Bird Man' John Gould (1804-1881), for Gould's The Birds of Australia, published in London between 1840 and 1848.

John Gould was 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, beautiful hand-coloured lithographs of birds.

While most people have heard of John Gould (perhaps from the Gould League of Bird Lovers at school), many do not know of the important contribution made by his artist wife Elizabeth (Coxen) Gould (1804-1841), who learnt lithography from great bird artist Edward Lear (1812-1888), who was a scientific artist at the Zoological Society where John Gould was the curator. Elizabeth came to Australia with her husband, and remained with two of their children in Tasmania, where she finessed many of the field sketches by her husband, for the hundreds of lithographs that would be done after they returned to London. Elizabeth Gould completed nearly 600 lithographs for her husband before she died at the age of 37, following the birth of their eighth child after their return to England. Edward Lear finished her unfinished work.

This is a beautiful lithograph in good condition. Because of its size the digital picture does not do it justice. The size of the page is as issued, 535 mm x 370 mm (21 inches x 14.5 inches).