Fringilla burtoni [Burton’s Grosbeak]

Description

original hand-colour lithograph. EXTREMELY RARE.

This stunning original antique print was published in John Gould’s celebrated “Birds of Asia”, vol. II, in London, between 1850 and 1883. The present example is from the “same group of “”pattern plates”” retained and later acquired by Henry Sotheran & Co. following Gould’s death. This plate was specifically used as the original reference for Gould’s colourist to produce the rest of the work. It is a unique opportunity to own an important part of the production process of Gould’s works; produced with contributions from artists including Elizabeth Gould, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf, William Hart, and H. C. Richter.

Burton’s Grosbeak (Fringilla burtoni) is a high-altitude Himalayan finch, known for its robust beak, striking facial markings, and crimson highlights. Native to temperate montane coniferous forests and rhododendron woodlands stretching across the Himalayan mountain range from eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan through northern India to Nepal and Sikkim, it thrives in subalpine environments. Today, it can still be found residing in these same high-altitude Asian mountain habitats, foraging near the treeline in summer before descending slightly to lower grassy slopes, forest edges, and snow lines during winter.