Lot 2259

Mivart & Keulemans's A Monograph of the Lories - Volume with 61 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs

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Lot 2259
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Mivart & Keulemans's A Monograph of the Lories - Volume with 61 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs
Mivart & Keulemans's A Monograph of the Lories - Volume with 61 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs
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Mivart & Keulemans's A Monograph of the Lories - Volume with 61 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs

Estimate: $12,000 - $16,000

Starting Bid: $5,000

(0 Bids)
by Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
August 1, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
115 Hampsted Lane
Franklin, TN, US 37069

This lovely volume with 61 originally hand-colored lithographs is A Monograph of the Lories, or Brush-tongued Parrots. The work was authored by St. George Jackson Mivart and the celebrated John Gerrard Keulemans provided the images. This first edition work was published in London by R. H. Porter in 1896.

The volume is bound in original cloth with gilt title to spine and cover. It includes 61 originally hand-colored lithographs.

A Monograph of the Lories, according to Sacheverell Sitwell (writing in Fine Birds Books), included Keulemans 'best work'. The artist shows a masterful grasp of composition, balancing the need to show the birds in characteristic pose, whilst giving the maximum amount of information about the beautiful plumage that is so typical of the Loriidae family, but without losing sight of the importance of retaining the harmony of the image as a whole.

The author, Mivart, describes the Loriidae family as 'a very attractive group of rather small birds' varying 'from the size of a Turtle-Dove to about that of a Sparrow', and consisting 'of 75 more or less distinct species. The family is remarkable for its brilliancy and gay coloration', and its friendliness: 'Some of them will spontaneously approach human dwellings, and most of them make excellent pets'. Their feeding habits are a special feature: 'The lories are very choice feeders, living as they do on the nectars and pollen of flowers. Their tongue is very remarkable, as it is formed as a kind of brush, which is no doubt destined to extract the nectar'.

John Gerrard Keulemans (1842-1912) is one of the most respected bird artists whose images were noted for their fine detail. He contributed to some of the best known ornithological works including those of Elliot, Buller, Dresser, and The Ibis. According to Jackson ( Bird Illustrators, p. 90), “The great value of Keulemans' work as an ornithological draughtsman lay in his sureness of design of the plate and his accuracy in portraying the birds themselves. The bird figures were carefully drawn and executed down to the last scales on the feet. The feathering was neatly delineated with the different plumes receiving sympathetic treatment.”

  • Dimensions: ~ 10 1/4" by 12 3/4"
  • Literature: A Monograph of the Lories, or Brush-tongued Parrots
  • Medium: Volume with 61 Originally Hand-colored Lithographs
  • Circa: 1896
  • Condition: The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be some mild browning or occasional foxing to the plates. There is a small shaving mark to the verso of the title page. There is some minor rubbing to covers. There is some wear to head and tail of spine as well as corners. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks or fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

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