Estate / Collection: Property from the Estate of Elaine and James D. Wolfensohn

LANSDOWNE, J. FENWICK

Rare Birds of China. London: Kennedy Fine Arts, (1992). Copy 39 of 100, with each plate signed in pencil and thus numbered, and the same numeration in the companion text volume. Loose sheets in the elephant folio blue fabric case of publication, the text in a companion volume in wrappers laid-in, the prospectus included; the whole protected in the canvas sleeve of issue. 32 x 25 inches (81 x 63 cm); 32 superb color collotypes after the original watercolor paintings, printed on Fabriano paper; each plate is laid into a special printed Japanese paper sleeve with the plate name. Fine; Offered with the original watercolor for the plate of the Chinese Monal, Lophophorus ihuysii. Watercolor over pencil outline on paper, 19 5/8 x 28 inches (50 x 71.5 cm) sight, signed J. F. Lansdowne ( (l.l.) and dated 1991; framed. In immaculate condition.

The watercolors by J. Fenwick Lansdowne for this work are among the highest achievements of ornithological art. The Chinese Monal is depicted here, with a pair of the males with their iridescent plumage; a female bird is standing behind them.

The magnificent collotype plates include the following: Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus; Temminck's Tragopan Tragopan temminckii; Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra; Swinhoe's Pheasant Lophura swinhoei; Elliot's Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti; Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus mikado; Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus; Brown Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum; Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis; Taiwan Magpie Urocissa caerulea; Chinese Parrotbill Paradoxornis heudei; Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus; Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis; White Stork Iconia ciconia; Crested Ibis Nipponia nippon; White Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon; Japanese Crane Grus japonensis; Cabot's Tragopan Tragopan caboti; Mrs. Hume's Pheasant Syrmaticus humiae; Steller's Sea Eagle Haliarrtus pelagicus; Oriental Hobby Falco severus; Chinese Monal Lophophorus ihuysii; Omei Shan liocichla Liocichla omeiensis; Silver Oriole Oriolus mellianus; Blyth's Tragopan Tragopan blythii; Firethroat Erithacus pectardens; Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus; White-necked Crane Grus vipio; Fulien Slaty Bunting Latoucheornis siemsseni; Sclater's Monal Lophophorus sclateri; Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis; Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica.