Lot #6: Antique Red-necked Grebe Lithograph

Three red-necked grebes paddle peacefully, flanked by reeds and pondside flowers. This plate was one of the 367 color plates in "The Birds of Great Britain," a 5 volume folio edition published over a period from 1862 - 1873, by John Gould (1804-1881). Gould trained as a taxidermist and became the preservationist at the Zoological Society of London. It was there that his focus turned to birds. He published his first folio volume, "A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains," and went on to catalog the birds of the world, providing pencil sketches and notes to the artists who created the works. These included his wife Elizabeth, and, after her death, Henry C. Richter, a renowned illustrator and lithographer, credited on this piece. "The Birds of Great Britain" was his most popular work, and showcases his attention to not only the birds but to their surroundings and especially their nesting habits. His contributions to ornithology were significant, and he identified several species Charles Darwin brought back from his voyages. Plates from the source materials were also produced, of which we believe this to be one of the originals. Wood frame with black inner border, under glass. Dimensions: 24.5"W X 17.5"H Pickup category timeslot {D}