Title: Thaumastura Elisae. (Mexican hear-tail) (Hummingbird).
John Gould (1804-1881)
Medium: Lithograph handcolored, 1849-87.
From "A Monograph of the Trochilidae or Family of Humming-Birds." Printed by Hullmandel and Walter from drawings by J. Gould, H.C. Richter and William Hart, lithographed by the artists. Published in London, 1849-87.
With original text sheet.
Paper size 21 1/4 x 14 1/4" (54.0 x 36.2 cm).

John Gould (1804-1881) born on September 14, 1804 in Lyme Regis, Dorset England. He is one of the most famous ornithological artists of his era. He published many different sets of ornithological art including "The Birds of Europe," "The Birds of Great Britain," "The Birds of Asia," "The Birds of Australia" "A Monotraph of the Trochilide or Family of Humming-birds, " and many other. In total publishing over 3,100 different lithographs of birds were drawn by him of the other ornithological artists he supervised including Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf and William Hart.

His family was of modest means, his father was the foreman in the Royal Gardens of Windsor and John Gould worked with him in the gardens. He moved to the gardens at Ripley Castle in Yorkshire where he became an expert taxidermist. That skill was recognized and at 23 he was appointed as the first curator and chief Taxidermist at the Zoological Society of London. There he met the leading naturalists and was able to see the museums extensive collection of birds. His first publication in 1831 "A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains" was followed by "The Birds of Europe" in 1837.

As an artist and naturalist his images of birds are incredible in their color and detail.

Condition: Good condition with full original color, save for mild toning on the sheet edges.