Birds · 19th century
€ 200
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Good, given age. General age related toning and soiling. Old hand-coloring. Please study the images carefully.
This original lithograph is a hand-colored lithograph from the early 19th century, depicting a vibrantly colored bird identified as "Tanagra Episcopus Linn. Mus." This refers to the Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), a small bird found in Central and South America, known for its striking plumage which includes various shades of blue and grey.
The term "Tanagra" is an older name that was historically used for this group of birds, which are now more commonly referred to as "Thraupis" in scientific nomenclature. The label "Die Pfarrelis Aertze. Mann." is more challenging to interpret, as it does not correspond to modern scientific or common names. It could be an archaic or poetic name for the bird, or possibly a transcription error.
The lithograph, designated as "Iste Lieferung 3te Tafel," suggests that it is the third plate of the first installment of a series. The delicate and precise hand-coloring brings the illustration to life, highlighting the bird's detailed feather patterns and bright coloration.
This piece is marked "nach der Natur gezeichnet von C.W. Hahn," indicating that Carl Wilhelm Hahn drew the image from nature. Such prints were often part of larger works intended to document and share knowledge about bird species from around the world.
This print comes from Hahn's ornithological collection, "Vögel aus Asien, Africa, America & Neuholland in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen," which included birds from various regions of the world.
