Cinnyris aurora / Cinnyris flagrans [Philippine Orange-chested Sun-bird]

Description

original hand-colour lithograph, with accompanying text.

Exquisite print from Captain George Ernest Shelley’s landmark work A Monograph of the Nectariniidae or
Family of Sun-Birds. It depicts the Philippine Orange-chested Sunbird. Native to the tropical environments of the Philippine archipelago, this bird thrives in moist lowland primary forests, secondary growth, agricultural coconut groves, and mangrove habitats. Today, the species continues to be widely distributed across the Philippine islands, frequently seen foraging among flowering plants and canopy vines. Rendered by the renowned natural history artist John Gerard Keulemans—whose firsthand knowledge of the species allowed him to accurately capture their delicate morphology alongside lush botanical surroundings — this print represents one of the finest 19th century depictions of Indo-Malayan avifauna. Because Shelley self-published the work for a restricted subscriber base of only 250 copies, original first-edition plates of this calibre are rare and hold enduring value for collectors.