WHITE CRANE – Grus leucogeranus Temm – Original Lithograph – Edward Lear – John Gould – 1832-1837

A beautiful original nineteenth-century hand-coloured lithograph depicting the White Crane (Grus leucogeranus, Temm.) standing amongst reeds beside a rocky shoreline. Drawn and lithographed by Edward Lear, one of the greatest ornithological artists of the nineteenth century, and still only around twenty years old when Gould first commissioned him for his monumental natural history publications.

The composition is distinguished by the extraordinary elegance of the bird’s elongated neck and finely observed white plumage, rendered with remarkable subtlety and restraint. Lear’s mastery is particularly evident in the delicate tonal modelling of the feathers and the graceful upward sweep of the crane’s pose, while the vivid yellow facial markings and red eye provide a striking focal contrast within the otherwise restrained palette.

Produced for Gould’s monumental large-folio Birds of Europe, issued between 1832 and 1837, the lithograph forms part of one of the foundational works of nineteenth-century ornithological publishing. Lear’s contributions to the work included many of its most visually celebrated plates, especially the cranes, swans and other large wading birds for which his lithographic technique was exceptionally well suited.

Plate captioned “WHITE CRANE. Grus leucogeranus, (Temm.)” Lower left within the image inscribed “1831 Edwd. Lear del”. Printed by Hullmandel. Sheet size approximately 54.1 x 36.7 cm.

Condition: Noticeable age spotting and foxing to the plate surface and to the margins, together with age toning and minor handling wear consistent with the period. Small binding holes to left margin. Original hand-colouring remains attractive and apparently unrestored, with pleasing surviving colour to the facial markings, eye and legs. A visually elegant and highly decorative example in good condition overall.

A particularly graceful Edward Lear lithograph from Gould’s celebrated Birds of Europe.

Cataloguer: Daniel Hornsey of Hornseys, Ripon

Daniel Hornsey, a partner of Hornseys in Ripon, is widely regarded as a trusted specialist in the field of rare and second-hand books. As a long-standing member of the antiquarian book trade, he has advised private collectors, curated catalogues, and sourced works for leading dealers, libraries and institutions across the world.

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