"Buteo Specie Gallo Pavonis. The Turkey Buzzard", Catesby, Mark

Mark Catesby was an Englishman who spent a number of years in America studying botany, wildlife, and other aspects of nature, and is credited with being the first American naturalist. His famous work The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands was first published in 1731, and contained 220 hand-colored engravings, 109 of which were birds. Catesby's work was the first colored book on American birds. This is Plate 6, depicting a Turkey Buzzard, from the first edition. Sheet measures 19.5 x 13.5".

References: Sitwell, p. 86.

Condition: B+

Original color on hand-laid paper with a Strasbourg Lily over "LVG" watermark. There is one spot of foxing adjacent to the bird and a few small chips and tears along the edges of the sheet. Remnants of cello tape along the top edge of the sheet on verso.