Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of The Island Goose by Eleazar Albin, circa 1730

About this sheet

Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of The Island Goose by Eleazar Albin, circa 1730
This rare antique hand-colored engraving depicts the Island Goose, titled Anser Bassanus, created by Eleazar Albin around 1730. The engraving presents the bird standing on a green grassy mound above the sea, with its distinctive pale grey and buff plumage, black-tipped wings, and striking white-ringed dark eye rendered in fine detail. The caption at the bottom reads Anser Bassanus and The Island Goose, with the artist’s signature E. Albin del. visible, confirming its place in Albin’s ornithological works.

Eleazar Albin was among the first English natural history illustrators to combine scientific accuracy with artistic skill, producing hand-colored engravings drawn directly from nature. His publications, including A Natural History of Birds, introduced English readers to the detailed visual study of native and exotic bird species, setting a precedent for ornithological illustration in the 18th century.

The Island Goose depicted here is an archaic name likely referring to the Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus), known for its coastal nesting habits on rocky islands of the North Atlantic. The bird is illustrated in profile to highlight its elegant form, webbed feet, and proportionately long neck and beak. Albin’s engravings were valued not only as scientific resources but also as decorative artworks, and remain highly collectible today for their early contribution to zoological documentation and Enlightenment-era publishing.

Condition report:
The print is in fair condition, with visible text offsetting from a facing page affecting the neck and body area. There is mild age toning across the sheet and minor foxing in the margins, but the hand coloring remains clear and the engraving lines are sharp. No tears or repairs are visible.

Framing tips:
This engraving will display well in a dark wood or black frame with a gold inner liner to emphasize its historical and naturalistic qualities. Use a cream or antique white mat to enhance the pale tones of the goose and maintain an elegant, museum-quality presentation suitable for natural history collections, studies, or libraries.