Columba Intermedia, Strickl

Circa 1875-1888

Hand-coloured lithograph heightened with gum Arabic on paper

Without mount: 20.6 x 13.8 in (52.5 x 35.2 cm)
With mount: 26.9 x 20 in (68.5 x 51 cm)

Printed by Walter, Imp.
Commonly known as Indian Rock-Pigeon

This is plate 56 from John Gould's, Birds of Asia, Volume VI, Part XXXIV, January 1883, London: Printed by Taylor and Francis, published by the author. Accompanied by a descriptive text at the back of the print.

The Birds of Asia (1875-1888) is regarded as one of John Gould’s greatest works. The collection contains 530 hand-coloured lithographed plates by John Gould, Henry Constantine Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Matthew Hart. Though Gould himself sketched most of his plates, other artists such as his wife Elizabeth, Edward Lear, Joseph Wolf, William Hart and Henry C. Richter finished them.

Dr Jerdon writes, "The Blue Pigeon of India is one of the most common and abundant birds throughout the country, congregating in large flocks, and breeding wherever they can find suitable spots. They are most partial to large buildings, such as churches, pagodas, mosques, tombs, and the like, frequently entering verandahs of inhabited houses and building in the cornices. Holes in walls of cities or towns, too, are favourite places; and in some parts of the country they prefer holes in wells, especially, I think, in the west of India, the Deccan, &c. In default of such spots they will breed in crevices and cavities of rocks, caverns, and sea-side cliffs; and I have often noticed that they are particularly partial to rocky cliffs by waterfalls. The celebrated falls of Gaisoppa are tenanted by thousands of Blue Pigeons, which here associate with the large Alpine Swift It is more rare in forest countries generally than in the open country. It extends from Ceylon throughout India to the Himalayas, and also to Assam, Sylhet, and Burmah. It is doubtful if it occurs in Afghanistan, or in other parts of Central Asia. These Pigeons are held in favour by most natives, and almost venerated by some; and if they build in the house of a native, he considers it a most fortunate omen. They are, however, very destructive to grain, assembling in vast flocks in the cold weather; and, in general, the natives do not object to their being shot. They are undoubtedly the origin of most of the domestic Pigeons of India." (John Gould, Birds of Asia, Volume VI, Part XXXIV, January 1883, London: Printed by Taylor and Francis, published by the author, January 1883)

This work will be shipped unframed

NON-EXPORTABLE

This lot will be shipped in "as is" condition. For further details, please refer to the images of individual lots as reference for the condition of each lot.