London, the author, ca. 1835. Folio (37.6 x 27.7 cm). Well preserved hand-painted engraving of a bird in its natural surroundings.

This is a lovely hand-coloured plate from the finest and most complete atlas of portraits of British avifauna ever published, namely, Illustrations of British Birds (London, Longman, 1835-1850). Drawn and printed for the author - the Dutch-born British ornithologist Henry Meyer - and finely coloured by his wife, Mary Anne, or one of their daughters. This print is in good condition, but shows some spotting or foxing, mainly to the upper and lower right side. One tiny tear at lower left corner, but otherwise no creases, dents or tears present.