"Aulacoramphus Caeruleicinctus"

John Gould (1814-81) was the most skillful and successful ornithologist and recorder of birds in 19th century Britain.  Fortunately for collectors of antique books and prints, his abilities were recognized during his lifetime and his financial success enabled him to also be the most prolific bird artist of his time. The bright colors and striking compositions of the images in his book on toucans, “A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans, have made it one of his most famous works.

Gould’s great skill and renown cause him to be referred to as ‘the British Audubon.” However, while Audubon concentrated on studying and depicting birds of North America, John Gould traveled the globe, collecting specimens and making drawings of birds in the Himalayas, Brazil, Australia, New Guinea,  America  as well as his homeland, Great Britain.  He was able to introduce the world’s most unusual and exotic birds to an eager public.

This beautifully rendered antique print possesses the compositional style developed and perfected by Gould. Each marvelously detailed lithograph depicts the birds, a male and a female, drawn to scale and shown in their natural habitats. In the case of the toucans, most of the birds have their heads turned sideways to better display their impressively large bills. Each image was individually meticulously hand colored.

Hand colored lithograph.
15 1/4 x 22 inches, sheet.
Excellent condition