Within Australia
All orders ship freewithin Australia
Rest of the World
Orders over A$300
ship free worldwide
C1789
Male Superb Warbler.
Artist:
A superbly hand coloured c.18th engraving of the first printed image of the Superb Fairy-wren from a specimen collected in Australia in the first year of the founding of the colony in 1788 and printed in London, 17th June, 1789. … Read Full Description
Sold
S/N: VTBB-BI-AA-157–309939
(B008)
Free Shipping
See Shipping page for Terms & Conditions
Details
Full Title:
Male Superb Warbler.
Date:
C1789
Artist:
Condition:
In good condition.
Technique:
Hand coloured copper engraving.
Image Size:
185mm
x 260mm
Paper Size:
218mm
x 296mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1789
Description:
A superbly hand coloured c.18th engraving of the first printed image of the Superb Fairy-wren from a specimen collected in Australia in the first year of the founding of the colony in 1788 and printed in London, 17th June, 1789.
The specimen was collected by William Anderson, surgeon and naturalist on Captain James Cook’s third voyage in 1777 when it visited Adventure Bay, Tasmania. He named it Motacilla cyanea but did not live to publish his findings, these were described by his assistant William Ellis n 1782.
Common name: Superb Fairy-wren, Superb Blue Wren, Fairy Wren
Binomial name: Malurus cyaneus
First described: Ellis 1782
Distribution: SA, VIC, TAS, NSW & QLD.
From Phillip, A. Governor Arthur Phillip’s, Voyage to Botany Bay. London.
References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 47.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 pp.59-64, pp.127-128, p.345-5, ill. p.63..
Collections:
National Gallery Australia: NGA 2012.1417
State Library Victoria: 30328102131546/24
Peter Mazell (1759 - 1797)
Mazell was an Irish painter and engraver, working in London between c. 1761 and 1797. He is known for his fine engravings of natural history subjects, especially those illustrating books by John Walcott and the Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant. He created almost 600 engravings in his career. He also exhibited paintings of landscapes and of flowers. He exhibited at the Society of Artists and at the Royal Academy.
