SHINING BRONZE CUCKOO

Distribution: Cape York QLD to Eyer Peninsula SA. New Zealand. Two races. First described by Gmelin Syst. Nat. 1788. Danish born artist who after studying entered the military as a Draughtsman. On leaving Denmark he obtained work at the British History Museum in London. This image is from the last great bird series, The Birds of Australia by G. Matthew’ and is rarer than John Gould’ work on Australian birds, with only 225 sets done. It was the last series produced to use hand colouring rather than colour printed lithography for the illustrations. Original lithograph. Rare.