Capercaillie on a Fallen Log in Snowy Pines, Antique Bird Print, Morris, 1896
€ 165
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1896
Mapmaker / artist
Not named on the sheet
Publisher
John C. Nimmo, London
Technique
Wood Engraving
Coloring
Hand colored
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-11586-63
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.
Condition
Even age toning. Handling soiling along the bottom, left and top edges. A few small dark specks in the upper margin. Complete sheet, all four corners present.
About this sheet
This is an original wood engraved bird plate, colored by hand, captioned "CAPERCAILLIE." A cock capercaillie stands on a fallen, mossy log, seen in three quarter view from behind, with the head turned to the right in profile and the broad dark tail hanging down at the lower left. The head and neck are dark slate gray, finely marked, with a scarlet patch above the eye and a pale gray hooked bill. The folded wing is brown, the breast a glossy bottle green, and pale buff tips edge the flank feathers. Behind the log stand snow laden conifers drawn in fine line and left uncolored.
The engraved caption below the picture reads "CAPERCAILLIE." with a full stop. There is no plate number above the picture and no engraver's credit on the sheet. The capercaillie is Tetrao urogallus.
A History of British Birds was written by the Reverend Francis Orpen Morris (1810 to 1893), rector of Nunburnholme in Yorkshire. The wood blocks for the plates of the work were engraved by Benjamin Fawcett (1808 to 1893) of Driffield in Yorkshire. This fourth edition was issued in six volumes by John C. Nimmo, London, and this plate comes from the third volume, whose title page is dated 1896 and states that the plates are colored by hand. Each plate combines an engraved black key block with a printed gray tint, finished by hand in watercolor.
Condition: Even age toning. Handling soiling along the bottom, left and top edges. A few small dark specks in the upper margin. Complete sheet, all four corners present.
This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.
