GOULD (John), &
GOULD (Elizabeth), artist.
A Synopsis of the Birds of Australia.
A BEAUTIFUL COPY WITH DISTINGUISHED PROVENANCE
A handsome copy of John Gould’s preparatory work on Australian Birds published in the same year as his contribution to Charles Darwin’s Zoology of the Beagle.
This remarkable series of head studies of 199 species of Australian birds includes thirty-six hitherto unknown species. The beautifully hand-coloured plates were illustrated and prepared for lithographic printing by Elizabeth Gould (1804-41). Elizabeth, who learned the art of stone lithography from Edward Lear, collaborated with her husband on other projects including A Century of Birds from the Himalayan Mountains.
The specimens illustrated here were collected in Australia by Elizabeth’s brothers. It was on the basis of these that Gould decided that he should visit Australia personally and, along with Elizabeth, spent two years there collecting specimens and preparing his magnum opus which was published between 1840 and 1869. This copy includes the eight-page “Descriptions of New Species” at the end.
Provenance: bookplate of Peter Shand Kydd.
Ayer/Zimmer, 254; Ferguson, 2271; Fine Bird Books, 101; Nissen IVB, 382; Nissen SVB, 198; Sauer, 5.
