THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON:
On the Birds collected by Professor J.B. Steere in the Philippine Archipelago by R. Bowdler Sharpe
Part VI - November 1877
This is a superlative collection of plates from this highly important booklet published by The Linnean Society of London. This represents a full account of the Travels of Professor Steere as conveyed by him to Sharpe upon his return in the Autumn of 1875 while in London. Sharpe then met with Steere again in 1876 when all of the skins had been unpacked and Sharpe was allowed to fully describe the specimens collected and produce this booklet with fine illustrations by one of the great natural history artists, John Gerrard Keulemans. Keulemans not only prepared the drawings of the birds, but also transferred these to the lithographic stones which were then printed by M. & N. Hanhart. The booklet of 48 pages of description and tables is uncut and the 9 illustrations were sewn in at the back. They are all full-sized as issued 11 7/8 5/8 x 9 1/4 inches and all are in absolutely superb condition with some light overall toning of the sheets. Quite extraordinary prints and quite rare with some of the finest hand-coloring that I have every seen. The addition of gum arabic to mimic the sheen on the feathers has also been done with great skill and precision. These all represent new species discovered in the Philippines and the first time that artistic depictions of them were made. As stated by Sharpe, "....Dr. Steere....visited several islands hitherto untrodden by the naturalist....". Please note that the taxonomy for most of these has changed dramatically over the years and while I have attempted to research these as much as possible, I'm sure I have erred on some of them in trying to correct the names as given in the 1870's!! The plates have been carefully removed from the booklet to allow for deacidification and removal of the heavily acidic tissue separators. The booklet is completely intact with nothing damaged. The plates can either be returned to the booklet with new tissue or left separated for easier study. A most extraordinary and rare collection with everything present in the original paper wraps.
Price: $1250.00 for the entire booklet and illustrations. As this is such a highly important collection, I believe that it should be kept together and sold as such!
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Chrysocolaptes erythrocephalus and Chrysocolaptes maculiceps now both known with the middle name "lucidus". They are found on Balabac, Busuanga, Calauit, and Palawan with the red-headed variety known as the Greater Flameback. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Halcyon winchellii, known now as Halcyon winchelli nigorum or Rufous-lored Kingfisher found on Biliran, Bohol, Calicoan, Cebu, Leyte, Negros, Samar and Siquijor. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Zeocephus cinnamomeus and Zeocephus cyanescens now known as Terpsiphone cinnamomea unirufa and Terpsiphone cyanescens or Rufous-Paradise-Flycatcher and Blue Paradise-Flycatcher. Found on Catanduanes, Cebu, Lubang, Luzon, Marinduque, Negros, Palaui, Panay, Polillo, Romblon, Sibuyan, and Tablas for the Rufous and on Bantac, Batas, Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Linapacan,Palawan, Tangat, and Tara for the Blue. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Brachyurus steerii now known as Pitta steerii steerii and found on Mindanao. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Phyllornis palawanensis now known as Chloropsis palawanensis or Yellow-Throated Leafbird and Ptilocichla falcata or Falcated Ground-Babbler. Found on Balabac, Busuanga, Calauit, Coron, Culion, Dumaran,and Palawan for the Leafbird and Balabac and Palawan for the Babbler. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Irena tweeddalii now known as Irena puella tweedalei or Asian Fairy-Bluebird and Irena melanochlamys now known as Irena cyanogaster cyangaster or Philippine Fairy-Bluebird. The Asian is found on Balabac, Busuanga, Calauit, Culion, and Palawan and the other is found on Catanduanes, Luzon, and Polillo. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Cittocincla nigra now known as Copsychus niger or White-Vented Shama found on Balabac, Bantac, Busuanga, Batas, Coron, Culion, Dumaran, Linapacan, and Palawan. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Dendrobiastes basilanica now known as Ficedula basilanica (samarensis) or Little Slaty Flycatcher, Parus amabilis or Palawan Tit, Dendrophila oenochlamys now known as Sitta frontalis palawan or Velvet-Fronted Nuthatch. The first found on Leyte & Samar, second on Balabac, Calauit, and Palawan, and the third on Balabac and Palawan. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
This is a superb original hand-colored stone lithograph from the above publication showing Sarcophanops steerii now known as Eurylaimus steerii or Mindanao Wattled Broadbill. Signed in the lithographic stone by Keulemans with the initials. The colors are as fresh and bright as they were in 1877. The paper has lightly toned to a pale ivory with the very edges toned just a bit darker. The image above shows the paper with the truest color.
