(Puffin) Nederlandsche Vogelen... Amsterdam, 1770-1829. $700.00

"Alca Artica"

A beautiful image of a puffin from the first comprehensive account of the birds of Holland including all the species known to exist in the Netherlands through the time of publication  and many migratory birds found elsewhere in Europe and in the Americas.   The birds are shown in their natural surroundings and in their natural attitudes.  The background of this plate is one of the most fully described. The bird sits on a rocky shoreline surroundedwith shells scattered on the sand. By the turn of the 20th century this North Atlantic bird was rarely seen on the American shores. Fortunately, as reported in the June 2010 Smithsonian magazine, biologists in Maine have succussfully reestablished the Atlantic Puffin there.

A description of Nederlandsche Vogelen… is included in Fine Bird Books by Sacheverell Sitwell.  The author of this essential reference had very high standards for what volumes could be included.  He defined a ‘fine book’ as “one which is finely produced.  Well printed on hand-made paper, preferably finely bound, it should be enjoyable to look at and to handle.  The pictures should not only be well drawn but reproduced as near perfectly as possible.”  (Sitwell, p.48) It is certainly telling that he selected a Nozeman image to be the frontispiece of his essential reference on antique ornithological prints.

Hand colored copperplate engraving.
20 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches.
Finest possible condition with perfectly preserved original color, full margins and accompanying text..