Antique Bird Print of the Eurasian or Australian Coot by Albin, c.1738

Antique print titled 'Cotee - Fulica'. Old bird print of the Eurasian coot. The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is largely black except for the white frontal shield (which gave rise to the phrase "as bald as a coot", in use as early as 1430). This print originates from 'The Natural History of Birds' by E. Albin. This is the rarest and most highly prized of Albin’s works as it was hand coloured entirely by Albin and his daughter, Elizabeth. There were only 89 sets published.

Artists and Engravers: Eleazar Albin was a German professional painter who settled in England in 1707, where he married and raised a family, changing his name from Weiss to Albin. He illustrated works on insects and spiders, earning his living by making watercolors of the collections of wealthy patrons, including Sir Hans Sloane, whose collection founded the British Museum. His work on birds was done late in his life & was the first large English work on ornithology, hand-colored by Albin and his daughter Elizabeth & published initially in London from 1731-1738.

Condition: Good, original/contemporary hand coloring. Minor foxing, general age-related toning. Blank verso, please study image carefully.

Date: c.1738

Overall size: 28.5 x 22 cm.

Image size: 0.001 x 25 x 20 cm.