William Lizars (1788-1859): Plate 27, Supercilious Humming Bird, 1833

This is a hand-colored steel engraving by Scottish painter, engraver, and publisher William Home Lizars (1788-1859) for Sir William Jardine’s ‘The Naturalist’s Library: Ornithology: Hummingbirds Volume 2,’ published in Edinburg in 1833.
 
Under the image is the scientific name of the bird, Native of Guiana and then the common name. Lizars sc. (engraver) is printed in the lower right corner of the image.
 
We can only presume our great grand aunts the Burr sisters or our grandmother intended to frame this as long as a century ago… It is  in decent vintage condition, with a folded corner in the lower left, a folded tear under the title and book binding extraction marks on the upper lip, and very minor creasing. It is only slightly discolored with age.
 
The only other original unframed or unmatted that we found online is priced at $ 60 in what appears to be pristine condition. Note: the image has aged out of copyright and can be printed to order now as well.
 
H 4” x L 6 3/8”
 
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