Included in this lot:

Variegated Tinamou. 65
Black Ostrich. 71
American Jabiru. 75


Description of the work:

This fine bird engraving is from John Latham?s inaugural work, the first edition of A General Synopsis of Birds. The work was published in London for B. White, Leigh, and Sotheby between 1781 and 1787.

A General Synopsis of Birds was an exceedingly rare work with only 500 sets of the first edition ever published. It was the most comprehensive ornithological publication of the time including about 3000 species. More than 200 Australian & New Zealand birds were described, often for the first time in this work.

John Latham (1740-1837) was an English ornithologist. He was a founding member of the Linnean Society and considered the ?grandfather of Australian Ornithology,? Latham expanded the knowledge of Australian birds overseas. Denominating quite a few varieties of birds, Latham is credited for the naming of the Emu, the Australian Magpie, the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, and others. Latham was also the first to describe the Hyacinth Macaw.

Provenance: 20th-century pictorial bookplate of M. H. Cockell and bookseller's ticket (G. A. Poynder of Reading); Bookplate and ownership inscription (dated 1915) of J. H. Gurney (British ornithologist John Henry Gurney Jr. (1848-1922))


Paper Size: ~ 9 3/4" by 8 1/4"


Paper Type or Special Features: Originally Hand-colored Engraving

The work is in good to excellent condition. There may be some faint toning or offset with this work. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.