New Zealand Antique Prints
& Rare Books

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Gallery

Books may also be seen at:


New Zealand Birds’
(The Greytown Gallery)

65 Wood Street
Post Office Box 146
Greytown, 5742
Wairarapa
New Zealand

Mobile: +64 (0)27 508 5078 narena@nzbirds.com

Dr John Latham was the pre–eminent ornithologist of his day. ‘Known as the Grandfather of Australian ornithology, he was the first to describe, and to name scientifically, a large number of Australian (and New Zealand) birds’.

According the WRB Oliver, both the specimens and the drawings collected by the Forsters in the New Zealand region during Cook’s second voyage, together with those specimens collected during Cook’s first voyage were used by Latham when writing his General Synopsis of Birds (1781–1785). The Synopsis was limited to 500 copies.

The General History of Birds, (1821–28) which was to become his best–known work, is an expansion of his earlier General Synopsis of Birds. The General History contains 193 plates ‘including all the species in his former work as well as many additional ones, including Australian and New Zealand species in the collection of the Linnean Society...’ (Whittell). He designed, sketched and coloured the illustrations himself.

Wattled Starlings

  SOLD

 

Wattled Starlings;   Plate XXXVI:

Price: US$190.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from A General Synopsis of Birds published in London, 1795.

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. This print does not have the watermark.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (18.5 x 24cm) approximately.
Condition: Excellent, with some age toning, please see larger image.
Text: NO text.

New Zealand Lark (pipit) Plate LI

$175.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

New Zealand Lark (pipit);   Plate LI:

Price: US$175.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from A General Synopsis of Birds published London, 1795.

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. This print does not have the watermark. “Latham, using Forster's drawing, described the ‘New Zealand Lark’.” — WRB Oliver

Artist:  John Latham

Plate size: 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (18.5 x 24cm) approximately.
Condition: Very good, please see larger image.
Text: NO text.

Cinereous Wattle Bird (South Island Kokako)

$240.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Cinereous Wattle Bird (South Island Kokako);   Plate XIV:

Price: US$240.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from A General Synopsis of Birds published in London, 1795.

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. This print does not have the watermark.

“Latham, using Forster’s material, called it the Cinereous wattle bird.” — WRB Oliver.

The South Island Kokako is now extinct.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (18.5 x 24cm) approximately.
Condition: Good, with faint but extensive foxing, please see larger image.
Text: NO text.

Phillipine Rail (banded rail)

$135.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Phillipine Rail (banded rail);   Plate XXXVI:

Price: US$135.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from A General Synopsis of Birds published in London, 1795.

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. Watermark present.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches (18.5 x 24cm) approximately.
Condition: Excellent, please see larger image.
Text: NO text.

Latham Ominous Owl

$110.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Ominous Owl;   Plate XVI:

Price: US$110.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821–28).

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (21.7 x 27cm) approximately.
Condition: Reasonable with both water stains and foxing in the margins and faint, but large foxing in the image, please see larger image.
Text: Text included.

Latham, Pied Oister-catcher

$120.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Pied Oister-catcher;   Plate CLVI:

Price: US$120.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821–28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (21.7 x 27cm) approximately.
Condition: Good with bleeding from a facing page, please see larger image.
Text: NO Text.

South Island Kokako

$190.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Cinereous Wattle Bird (South Island Kokako);
Plate XXXVIII:

Price: US$190.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821–28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper.

“Latham, using Forster’s material, called it the Cinereous wattle bird.” — WRB Oliver.

The South Island Kokako is now extinct.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (21.7 x 27cm) approximately.
Condition: good with some age toning and foxing. The foxing is found mainly in the top margin, please see larger image.
Text: Text included.

(Piopio, the New Zealand Thrush)

  SOLD

 

Thick-billed Thrush( Piopio, the New Zealand Thrush);   Plate LXXX:

Price: US$135.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821-28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. It carries an 1821 watermark.

Piopio is now extinct.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 x 10 1/2 inches (20 x 26cm) approximately.
Condition: Very good, there is a 1.5cm tear in top margin, please see larger image.
Text: NO text.

Yellow-nosed albatross

$120.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Yellow-nosed albatross;   Plate CLXIX:

Price: US$120.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821-28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. This print does not have the watermark.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/4 x 10 3/4 inches (21.7 x 27cm) approximately.
Condition: Very good with some light text bleed and very minor foxing, please see larger image.
Text: NO text.

Spotted Shag

$140.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Spotted Shag Plate;   CLXXXII:

Price: US$140.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821-28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper. This print does not have the watermark.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches (21.7 x 26cm) approximately.
Condition: Very good, with some foxing mainly in the right margin, please see larger image.
Text: Text is included.

New Zealand falcon

$165.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

New Zealand falcon;   Plate IX:

Price: US$165.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821-28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/2 x 10 3/4 inches (21.8 x 27.4cm) approximately.
Condition: Very good with some age toning, please see larger image.
Text: Text included.

Fan tailed Cuckow

$265.00 USD
(includes shipping)

 

Fan tailed Cuckow;   Plate LVII:

Price: US$265.00 (includes shipping costs)


LINK to LARGER image

Original hand-colored engraving from The General History of Birds, (1821-28).

Printed on hand woven, fleur de lis watermarked, laid paper.

Artist:  John Latham

Print size: 8 1/8 x 10 3/4 inches (21 x 27.5cm) approximately.
Condition: Very good, with some foxing mainly in the top margin, please see larger image.
Text: Text included.