1678 Francis Willughby "Diving Birds" Copperplate Engraving – Archivally Matted

Details

Description

Antique late-17th-century copperplate engraving of shorebirds and water birds from Francis Willughby and John Ray’s landmark ornithological work, The Ornithology … Read more Antique late-17th-century copperplate engraving of shorebirds and water birds from Francis Willughby and John Ray’s landmark ornithological work, The Ornithology of Francis Willughby, published in English in 1678 after the earlier Latin edition, Ornithologiae libri tres.

The plate is clearly marked TAB. LIX in the upper right corner and features a finely engraved arrangement of birds with early Latin and English identifiers, including Fulica / The Coot, Tamatia, and Glottis major among the labeled species. The composition has a wonderful old-world scientific character, pairing 17th-century natural history study with crisp copperplate linework and strong cabinet-of-curiosities appeal.

Willughby and Ray’s work is considered one of the foundational texts of modern ornithology, notable for moving bird classification away from folklore and toward physical observation and morphology. This engraving carries that early scientific importance while also presenting beautifully as a decorative antique work on paper.

Presented by AJ | Gilded in a 12 × 16 archival mat, sold matted and unframed. The mat gives the piece a finished display size while preserving the antique sheet itself, making it ready for placement into a standard 12 × 16 frame.

Archival Presentation Note

Every piece mounted or matted by AJ | Gilded is presented using archival, reversible methods designed to protect the paper itself. We use only acid-free materials and mounting techniques that keep adhesive off the artwork. While we are committed to providing tasteful art and collectibles, we are even more committed to preserving them for the next generation. See less