Antique John Gould 1850s Hand Colored Hummingbird Lithograph Campylopterus Delattrei Custom Framed

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Antique John Gould 1850s Hand Colored Hummingbird Lithograph Campylopterus Delattrei Custom Framed

Elevate your space with an absolute masterpiece of … Read more Antique John Gould 1850s Hand Colored Hummingbird Lithograph Campylopterus Delattrei Custom Framed

Elevate your space with an absolute masterpiece of natural history and antique fine art: this rare, authentic nineteenth-century hand-colored lithograph by the world-renowned British ornithologist John Gould. Titled Campylopterus Delattrei, or De Lattres Sabre wing, this magnificent, large-scale imperial folio print originates from Gould's most celebrated and visually breathtaking masterwork, A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Hummingbirds, published in London between 1849 and 1861. The striking vertical composition captures a dynamic natural study of three brilliantly colored hummingbirds interacting around a cluster of delicate, soft pink orchids, showcasing an incredible level of scientific accuracy and exquisite artistic romance. Masterfully presented in a premium, custom, museum-caliber presentation, this original botanical and ornithological work is dramatically enhanced by a deep, hand-wrapped forest-green textured mat with a beaded gold fillet inner liner and a wide, timeless gold-gilt wood gallery frame, making it a commanding focal point for any luxury interior collection.

About the Maker
The production of this monumental print represents a historic collaboration between John Gould (1804 to 1881) and his brilliant chief artistic assistant, Henry Constantine Richter (1821 to 1902). John Gould, often referred to as the Audubon of Great Britain, was an elite English ornithologist whose visionary research and business acumen created the most spectacular illustrated natural history folios of the Victorian era. While Gould conceived the lifelike, active compositions and supervised strict color accuracy, it was Richter's masterful draftsmanship that translated the specimens onto the lithographic stones for printing. This specific sheet was pulled from the stones by the premier nineteenth-century lithographic printing house, Hullmandel and Walton Imperial, a firm legendary for perfecting delicate tonal gradations. Following the printing process, a team of highly skilled professional colorists hand-applied vibrant watercolor washes to each individual sheet using Gould's precise pattern plates, resulting in an incredibly rich, luminous finish that mechanical printing could never replicate.

Historical Significance
This magnificent hummingbird lithograph stands as a premier testament to the Golden Age of natural history illustration and the fervent nineteenth-century Victorian fascination with the exotic wonders of the New World. Gould's lifelong obsession with the Trochilidae family led him to amass a legendary collection of hummingbird specimens from across the Americas, captivating the European scientific community and high society alike. Because these luxury folios were produced in strictly limited quantities via an exclusive aristocratic subscription list, well-preserved sheets from the original imperial folio edition are highly coveted museum-quality survivors. This specific print not only captures the rare De Lattres Sabre-wing hummingbird but also serves as an invaluable historical record of early nineteenth-century botanical and ornithological exploration, reflecting the romantic era when art and science were perfectly intertwined.

Artistic Style and Presentation
This original antique print perfectly exemplifies the heightened realism and romantic naturalism that defined high Victorian scientific illustration. Moving away from the static profile drawings of earlier centuries, Gould and Richter pioneered dynamic mid-action compositions, arranging the birds in flight and in active interaction to showcase the iridescent qualities of their plumage alongside native flora. Framing this exquisite historical document is a magnificent modern traditional presentation designed to archival museum standards. The artwork is housed in a deep, custom three-dimensional shadow box profile, featuring a rich, hand-wrapped, textured hunter green mat board that perfectly draws out the natural foliage tones of the print. A delicate carved gold-beaded fillet frames the paper directly, while a substantial matching gold-leaf gilt-wood molding wraps the entire presentation, adding immense old-world warmth and stately architectural gravity.

Collector Investment Potential
For discerning art collectors and antique print connoisseurs, authentic imperial folio works by John Gould represent a rock-solid class of blue-chip decorative art investments. As the original complete volumes of his monographs are increasingly locked away permanently in museum archives and university library special collections, the global availability of individual original hand-colored sheets continues to contract. Gould's hummingbird prints are widely recognized as his most artistically successful and highly sought-after subject matter, consistently holding and appreciating in value on the international market. Acquired in such a magnificent, high-tier custom archival frame, this piece represents an investment that provides both instant daily aesthetic luxury and long-term security in antique valuation.

Specifications and Dimensions
Sight Width: 17.5 inches
Sight Height: 25.5 inches
Total Framed Width: 30 inches
Total Framed Depth: 1.5 inches
Total Framed Height: 38 inches
Medium: Original hand colored lithograph on paper
Artist: John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter
Printer: Hullmandel and Walton Imperial
Period: Mid 19th Century, circa 1849 to 1861
Subject: De Lattres Sabre-wing hummingbird Campylopterus Delattrei with orchids

Condition Report
This authentic mid-nineteenth-century hand-colored lithograph is in excellent antique condition, presenting beautifully with exceptional color retention and structural stability. The original hand-applied watercolor pigments remain remarkably vibrant and crisp, showing none of the severe fading or washing common in poorly preserved period prints. The paper substrate shows honest, light, age-appropriate toning and gentle historic characteristics that confirm its genuine nineteenth-century folio origin, but it is completely free of tears, punctures, or severe foxing or staining. The custom premium gallery frame is in excellent structural condition, with the solid wood molding completely stable and square. The top edge of the decorative gold molding shows minor, superficial cosmetic wear from gentle handling that does not affect the integrity or magnificent presentation of the framed art. The backside is neatly sealed with clean, professional brown dust-cover paper and fitted with heavy-duty braided hanging wire, arriving completely ready for secure, immediate wall installation.

Designers Note
From an upscale interior design perspective, this massive John Gould hummingbird folio is an absolute dream asset for establishing immediate historic narrative and classical elegance in a room. The substantial 30-by-38-inch framed footprint makes it a beautiful standalone anchor piece or the majestic centerpiece of a highly curated grand gallery wall. The rich contrast between the hand-wrapped forest green matting and the bright gold gilt molding gives this artwork an incredibly sophisticated, masculine library or English manor aesthetic. This piece is exceptionally versatile, working seamlessly above a formal dining room sideboard, flanking a fireplace mantel in a traditional study, or introducing a luxurious, old-world, welcoming statement on an entryway console wall.

Seize the rare opportunity to acquire a legendary piece of Victorian natural history with this masterfully presented John Gould hand colored lithograph. Perfect for high-end interior design professionals looking for an immediate showroom-quality focal asset to complete a luxury residential estate project or for the dedicated fine art collector seeking an elite museum-grade piece to elevate their private gallery, this magnificent Sabre wing study promises to bring sophisticated history, timeless organic beauty, and unrivaled English prestige to your living environment for generations to come. See less