This exquisite hand-colored lithograph depicts two olivaceous thornbills, a male and a female. The gorget of the male specimen is beautifully colored, with flashes of green, pink, and purple. These remarkable "coquettes" are found in the southeastern Peru and Bolivia's La Paz Department. The drawing and lithography are credited to John Gould and William Hart. Gould (1804-81) created some of the most beautiful bird prints ever produced and was known throughout the world as "The Bird Man." This lithograph appeared in his six-volume series on hummingbirds, published from 1849-87. Printed by Walter.

References: Sitwell, p. 102.

Condition: B+

Fine full contemporary color on a faintly toned sheet with two small spots in the image, binding holes along the right edge, and an old tape stain and short edge tear in the upper blank margin.