Hand colored original print of Reed bunting and Large billed reed bunting, elegantly matted and signed by the illustrator John Gerrard Keulemans

By H. E. Dresser Circa 1881 - Hand Colored, Original print from A History of the Birds of Europe by H.E. Dresser, published in London by the author between 1871 and 1881.

Matted dimensions: 13 1/2 x 17 inches

Image size approx: 8 1/2 x 11 inches 

Henry Eeles Dresser’s A History of the Birds of Europe 1871-1896 was
published during the grandest years of the Victorian era, at a time when an
extraordinarily talented group of artists, writers, publishers and printers were
producing some of the most sumptuous titles in ornithological literature. 
This work was to be the last great hand colored bird book, in itself extremely rare
and precious, as only about 240 copies were issued to subscribers only. It is rarer
by far than Gould’s Birds of Britain and Audubon’s Birds of America because of
this extremely small issue. Though named Birds of Europe, the scope was
actually much broader, covering species from Europe to part of Asia North Africa
and the Caucasus. The majority of the illustrations were the work of the illustrious
Dutch painter and illustrator, John Gerrard Keulemans (1842-1912). Utilizing
specimens from Dresser's own collection of 12,000 birds, he produced over 650 of
the illustrations for this superb work, which was his greatest achievement.

-information obtained from Panteek Antique Prints website