White Plumed Shrike

Artist: William Swainson

Print Author: William Home Lizars

Work: The Naturalist’s’ Library: The Natural History of the Birds of Western Africa

Date: 1837

Style: Hand Coloured Plates

Paper Size: Approximately 17 x 10.5 cm

Condition: Very good to excellent. Minor imperfections may be present due to age. Please examine the image carefully and contact us with any questions. 

Wider Description Of The Collection:

These beautiful hand-coloured antique prints by William Swainson, originally featured in The Naturalist's Library. Published between 1833 and 1843, this influential series, edited by Sir William Jardine and printed by William Home Lizars, brought zoological knowledge to a wider audience.

The Naturalist's Library was a landmark achievement in publishing.  Conceived as an affordable yet comprehensive survey of the animal kingdom, it ran to 40 volumes, each packed with vibrant hand-coloured plates.  While many artists contributed, including Edward Lear, these prints by William Swainson are highly sought after by collectors.

This series was inspired by popular works like Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels and aimed to provide high-quality illustrations alongside informative text.  The prints showcase Swainson's skill as a natural history artist, capturing the beauty and diversity of animals from around the globe.