Birds · 18th century
€ 690
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Very good impression with strong hand-coloring. Light marginal toning and a few faint spots consistent with age, not affecting the image. Plate mark visible.
The Great Green Parrot of the West Indies – Hand-Colored Engraving, Edwards & Seligmann, c.1750–1776
This vibrant hand-colored engraving shows the Psittacus viridis major, Occidentalis (Great Green Parrot of the West Indies), perched on a branch with surrounding foliage. The parrot’s plumage is richly detailed in green, yellow, red, and blue, with its hooked beak and striking gaze finely rendered.
The multilingual inscriptions identify it as Der große grüne Papagey aus West-Indien (German), Le Grand Perroquet Verd des Indes Occidentales (French), and Psittacus viridis major, Occidentalis (Latin). At the lower left, G. Edwards ad viv. delin. credits the original life drawing to George Edwards (1694–1773), one of the most influential naturalists of the 18th century. The plate was engraved by Johann Sebastian Leitner and published in Nuremberg by Johann Michael Seligmann (1720–1762), whose monumental ornithological series Sammlung verschiedener ausländischer und seltener Vögel re-engraved Edwards’ and Catesby’s work for a European audience between 1749 and 1776.
The inclusion of Latin, French, and German titles reflects the Enlightenment ideal of making natural history knowledge available to an international readership. The striking coloring and careful detail make this not only a scientific record but also a decorative work of art.
Condition: Very good impression with strong hand-coloring. Light marginal toning and a few faint spots consistent with age, not affecting the image. Plate mark visible.
Framing tips: A gilt or dark wood frame with a cream or pale green mount will emphasize the parrot’s bright plumage. A double mat with a thin red or blue inner border would highlight the accents in the feathers.
Technique: Copper engraving with hand coloring
Maker: After George Edwards (artist), Johann Michael Seligmann (publisher), Johann Sebastian Leitner (engraver), Nuremberg, c.1750–1776
