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This pair of signed plates feature several species of aquatic and wading birds, illustrated and identified, that were considered representative species, and well-known around the turn of the century when these prints were designed and produced. These are carefully drawn, with fine detail and meticulous application of color to simulate the textures and luster of the feathers.
Each illustration, dated 1902 and signed in the plate by the artist, was illustrated by Henry Hobart Nichols Jr., and exquisitely printed by the Julius Bien & Company in New York City, one of the most prestigious lithographers of the early 20th Century. The 1902 illustrations were printed for inclusion in a fine set of reference material published in1902 and 1903.
The artist, Henry Hobart Nichols Jr. (1869-1962) was an award-winning American landscape painter and illustrator, the son of H. H. Nichols Sr., a noted wood engraver. Nichols Jr. was born in Washington, D.C., and educated under Edmund Clarence Messer and Howard Hemlock (Washington, D.C.) and Caludio Castelucho (Paris). He launched his career as an illustrator employed by the U.S. Geological Society, and worked there for fifteen years.
Printed on medium-weight paper, the overall sheet size of each print is just over 7" x 9.75", and the printed portion (including the text above and below) is 5" x 8.75" (the narrow printed border is 5" x 8", text excluded), with blank margins of 1/4" - 1" all the way around to allow easy matting and framing. This pair could be framed either together in a double-windowed mat and a single large frame, or individually matted and framed as two separate, smaller pieces.
These prints are stone chromolithographs, with the distinctive saturated color and depth. They are very attractive works, with special attention to detail and accurate hue, and exceptionally well-printed.
I've matted and framed several of these, and they look very nice. Please check my store for other similar historical prints perfect for framing or incorporating into other projects.
A Note on Lithography: One of the delightful and interesting results of the engraving and ink transfer process in lithography is that there can be variants of the prints which look slightly different when compared side-by-side, even though they were produced by the same engraved plates on the same press. This may be a result of additional passes by one color or another, subtle differences in the ink tone, varying pressure from the pressing of the plates, slight variation in the position of each color plate, or other choices made by the engravers or the printers. The result is that each print's appearance is truly unique.
Below are cropped views of each sheet--without full margins. The images are a fairly accurate representation of the prints. Please refer to the closeup photographs for quality, signatures, and the depth of the margins.
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The first plate (above): contains illustrations of Water Birds: 1. Mute Swan, 2. Mallard Duck, 3. Graylag Goose, and 4. African Cormorant.
The second plate (below): contains illustrations of Wading Birds: 1. Purple Heron, 2. Spoonbill, 3. Flamingo, and 4. White Stork. 
Below: Closeups show conscious attention to fine detail, and the realistic application of shading that enhances the luster of the birds' plumage.
Below: The artist's signature (H. Hobart Nichols) within the lower-right border of the Aquatic Birds print.
Below: The artist's signature (H. Hobart Nichols) within the lower-left border of the Wading Birds print.
Above: The generous margins allow for convenient matting and framing of these prints. |