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Antique Hand-Colored Bird Print of the Sand Grouse by Gould, 1832
$1,395 (£1,060, €1,250)
Period original, not a reproduction.
Shipped from the Netherlands, flat, insured and tracked, worldwide. Returns accepted within 14 days.
- Date
- 1832
- Size
- 15.1 × 22 in (38.4 × 55.9 cm)
- Condition
- Good. Condition report: Original hand coloring with vivid detail, well-preserved impression. Margins show light age toning, small edge tears, and evidence of binding holes along the upper edge, consistent with removal from the original folio.
- Period
- Early 19th century
- Artist or book
- John Gould
- Section
- Birds
- Reference
- f_26511232
- Colour
- Hand coloured
What the condition grades mean
- Excellent
- Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
- Very good
- Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
- Good
- Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
- Fair
- Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Antique Bird Print of a Sandgrouse, Gould, 1832
This finely hand-colored lithograph, titled Sand Grouse (Pterocles arenarius, Temm.), was produced by the celebrated ornithologist and artist John Gould in 1832. It depicts a pair of sandgrouse, male and female, shown with meticulous attention to plumage detail and natural habitat. The male is rendered in striking shades of ochre and grey, with a bold black breast band, while the female is more subdued with mottled and speckled plumage that provides camouflage in arid landscapes.
Sandgrouse are remarkable birds, well adapted to desert environments across southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Known for their long-distance flights to water sources, the males have a unique behavior of soaking their breast feathers in water to carry it back to their young. This adaptation, combined with their swift, pigeon-like flight, made them a subject of fascination for naturalists in the 19th century.
This print was lithographed by H.C. Richter, one of Gould’s closest collaborators, and published in Gould’s early ornithological works, which combined scientific accuracy with artistic mastery. Gould’s publications set a new standard in ornithology, both as reference works and as collectible art objects.
Condition report: Original hand coloring with vivid detail, well-preserved impression. Margins show light age toning, small edge tears, and evidence of binding holes along the upper edge, consistent with removal from the original folio. Overall very good for its age.
Framing tips: A classic gold or dark wood frame paired with a light cream or pale beige mat will emphasize the warm hand coloring of the plumage. For a more modern presentation, a slim black frame with off-white matting will draw focus to the birds’ intricate detailing.
Technique: Hand-colored lithograph
Maker: John Gould, London, 1832
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