19th Century Rare Gould Pattern Pair | Hand-Colored Pitta Lithographs From John Gould’s Birds of Asia - Set of 2

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Description

ABOUT THE WORKS

This exceptional pair brings together two original nineteenth-century lithographs with original hand coloring from John Gould’s monumental … Read more ABOUT THE WORKS

This exceptional pair brings together two original nineteenth-century lithographs with original hand coloring from John Gould’s monumental The Birds of Asia. The pair includes Pitta cucullata and Pitta megarhyncha.

Each of the two lithographs is identified by manuscript notation as a pattern, or key, impression. Pattern impressions served as working color references for Gould’s publications, establishing the intended placement, tonal relationships, and finish that colorists were expected to reproduce across hand-colored impressions. In practical terms, they functioned as the examples colorists consulted when coloring the impressions prepared for publication.

Unlike plates accompanied by their corresponding descriptive text in bound copies of The Birds of Asia, these working pattern impressions were never bound and survive as complete folio sheets without corresponding text leaves. Their function was tied instead to the production process and the guidance of the colorists preparing Gould’s finished works.

Different iterations of pattern impressions were created as working references for Gould’s publications, and this pair represents a notably refined surviving form. Both are titled impressions and remain comparatively clean and well preserved. As working production material rather than ordinary published impressions, they retain a direct connection to the creation of Gould’s finished ornithological works.

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DOCUMENTATION & PROVENANCE

The pair is accompanied by original specialist documentation identifying the works as pattern impressions from John Gould’s Birds of Asia and describing their use as working color references during the publishing process.

The documentation records provenance through Donald A. Heald Rare Books, Prints and Maps and Henry Sotheran & Company’s acquisition of Gould’s remaining pattern material following his death. It further guarantees the works as authentic original antique prints and not modern reproductions. Copies of the documentation will accompany the pair. See less