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A Monograph of the Ramphastidae; or Family of Toucans. by John GOULD

Creator: John Gould
Offered by: Shapero Gallery

Description
GOULD, John.

A Monograph of the Ramphastidae; or Family of Toucans.
Stock Code 113756
London The author, 1834-35.

Current price$79,083.00
Subscriber's copy of Gould's first monograph. The Ramphastidae (Family of Toucans) is without doubt the finest and most comprehensive work on this family of Birds. Lear uses colour in a fantastic (in the original sense) manner to convey the beauty of these birds. 'The toucans, with their enormous beaks, have gone in for unimaginable transformations of their basic colours; their eyes, even, vary from bright blue to red. The beaks can be black, with an upper edge of pale straw yellow, or the beak is crimson red with a black dividing line, but sometimes the bill is green, olive green; or the lower bill a bright blue with green shadings.' (Sitwell). The Toucan family is limited to Mexico, Central and South America and some West Indian islands; the uncoloured plate accompanies Richard Owen's final chapter on the anatomy of the Toucan, written especially for the work.

First edition.Folio (54 x 36 cm.), dedication leaf, list of subscribers, and 33 hand-coloured lithographs by and after Edward Lear, John and Elizabeth Gould, each heightened with gum arabic, one uncoloured lithographed anatomical plate by and after G. Scharf; bound contemporary half green morocco gilt, spine gilt in compartments.

Henry Hall Gage, 4th Viscount Gage (1791-1877): named on List of Subscribers ("Gage, the Right Hon. Viscount, M.A., M.R.I., F.Z.S..."), with his bookplate.
Anker 170; Ayer/Zimmer 252; Balis 102; Fine Bird Books 77; McGill/Wood 364; Nissen IVB 378; Sauer 3

More Information

Documentation:	Documented elsewhere (similar item)
Period:	19th Century
Condition:	Good.
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Dealer Reference #:	113756
Incollect Reference #:	761688

Message from Seller:

Shapero Gallery Located in the heart of Mayfair, London, Shapero Gallery specializes in prints and original works on paper, ranging from antique prints to modern pochoir plates and photography. For inquiries, contact us at +44.207.493.0876 or gallery@shapero.com.