Lot #4: Robert Bateman SIGNED Ltd. Ed. Print "Courting Pair – Whistling Swans" 831/950 – Gallery

Up for auction is a beautifully presented, limited-edition lithograph print titled Courting Pair – Whistling Swans by the world-renowned Canadian naturalist and artist, Robert Bateman. This striking piece captures two tundra swans engaged in a dramatic courtship display against a meticulously rendered backdrop of ice and snow. The print is hand-signed by the artist in pencil in the bottom right corner and explicitly hand-numbered 831/950 in the lower left corner. Dimensions: • Frame Size: Approximately 33" x 27.75" Condition & Provenance Details (Collector's Dream): This piece stands far above standard market copies because it features all original institutional labeling preserved: • Original Mill Pond Press Label: The authentic publisher's registration sticker is attached to the backing, matching the hand-written edition number (831/950). • Full Artist Inserts Attached: Includes the original, intact printed documents from the publisher on the reverse side: a biographical overview of Robert Bateman and his personal artist's commentary detailing the unique creative challenges behind this specific work. • Professional Canadian Custom Framing: Housed behind a double mat and a substantial gold-toned wooden frame, originally crafted by Parkview Frame-Work Inc. in Kanata, Ontario. The framing is tight, neat, and instantly ready to hang. Historical Context & Notes of Interest: • The Rare 950 Tier: While many of Bateman’s popular prints were run in massive editions of 1,950 to meet 1980s demand, this harder-to-find edition was restricted to a smaller batch of only 950 impressions worldwide. • A Pivot Point in Wildlife Art: Originally painted in 1975, this work comes from a foundational era when Bateman transitioned from a high school geography teacher into an internationally recognized pioneer of environmental realism. • The "Whistling" Nomenclature: For birding and nature enthusiasts, this print preserves a specific moment in ornithological history. The birds are listed under their historical name, the "Whistling Swan." The species has since been officially reclassified by taxonomists as the Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), making the title a nostalgic collectible marker of 20th-century natural history. Why This Specific Piece Stands Above the Rest: • No Loose Paper Risks: Many Bateman prints on the market are sold loose, rolled, or unmounted. This piece is fully framed to museum standards, preserving the paper flatly and protecting it from edge wear. • Compositional Brilliance: Unlike Bateman's darker, heavily forested wilderness scenes, Courting Pair utilizes a brilliant "white-on-white" color palette. The high-contrast interplay between the white plumage, pristine snow, and the dark bills and feet of the swans creates an exceptionally bright, modern aesthetic that fits perfectly into contemporary home decor styles. Pickup category timeslot {A}