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(Grouse) Nederlandsche Vogelen... Amsterdam, 1770-1829. $675 |
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 "Tetrao, Tetrix, Max"
A beautiful image of a male Black Grouse by Cornelius Nozeman from the first comprehensive account of the Avifauna of Holland. The plates depict all the species known to exist in the Netherlands through the time of publication. This bird is commonly found in northern and central Europe, especially Scotland, northern England and parts of Wales. In Nature Into Art, Handasyde Buchanan describes the great Nozeman work as “as excellent and more realistic Dutch book solely on birds…” (Buchanan, p.82)
A description of Nederlandsche Vogelen… is included in Fine Bird Books by Sacheverell Sitwell. The author of this essential reference had very high standards for what volumes could be included. He defined a ‘fine book’ as “one which is finely produced. Well printed on hand-made paper, preferably finely bound, it should be enjoyable to look at and too handle. The pictures should not only be well drawn but reproduced as near perfectly as possible.” (Sitwell, p.48) It is certainly telling that he selected a Nozeman image to be the frontispiece of his essential reference on antique ornithological prints.
Hand colored copperplate engraving.
14 1/2 x 20 3/4 inches, sheet.
Very nice condition overall with light overall patina. Small area of smudging of watercolor at end of bird's tail.
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