Found at an estate sale, this marvelous antique 1770 12" x 17.5" framed copper plate engraving by noted Dutch naturalist and artist Cornelius Nozeman (1720–1786) is entitled "PASSER, Arboreus". It shows a pair of adult Eurasian Tree Sparrows with their nest and eggs. The birds are roughly life-size. This species was given the Latin name Passer arboreus by Linneaus and is today called Passer montanus. This engraving is a plate from Volume I of "Nederlandsche Vogelen" ("Birds of the Netherlands"), a monumental 5-volume set of engravings of the birds of the Netherlands, which at that time included the area known today as Belgium. It's framed under Plexiglass in a handsome 23.25" x 28.75" wood frame. The text page accompanying it is beneath a Mylar sheet affixed to the back.

Cornelius Nozeman (1720–1786) was a Dutch priest and naturalist. In 1759 he began preparations for his great work Nederlandsche Vogelen (Birds of the Netherlands). This work was the first encyclopedic book of the birds of the Netherlands, which at that time included the area known today as Belgium. This series was illustrated by members of the Sepp family, beginning with Christiaan Sepp and followed by Jan Christiaan Sepp and Jan Sepp. It was published by the naturalist Maarten Houttuyn over the period 1770 to 1829. With 50 of these marvelous plates in each volume it's reported to have been the most expensive set of books sold in Holland at that time. The website of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (the Dutch Royal Library, the National Library of the Netherlands) has published a digital copy of Nederlandsche Vogelen that can be accessed online. This plate of Passer arboreus is listed as Bladzijde 078b and its accompanying text page as Bladzijde 079 in Volume I of the digital version. The first section of John James Audubon's Birds of America, with its remarkable color plates, was published in 1827, two years before the final volume of Nederlandsche Vogelen.

As is unfortunately all too often the case at estate sales, I wasn't able to learn anything about the recent history of this superb engraving. However labels on the back indicate that it was framed by W. Graham Arader III Gallery in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania in 1991, which is probably also where it was purchased. The color and texture of the wood frame have been chosen to complement the colors in this engraving. The speckled mat is similar to the Ambiance conservation mat board called "Speckled Egg" and continues the avian theme.

This superb Passer arboreus engraving has fine detail and the colors are unfaded. The paper of the engraving is wavy or rippled, as is usual with antique engravings from this series. The accompanying text page on the back has considerable foxing along the left edge and the top edge is crumpled near the right corner (see photos).

A small label on the back reads:

PLEASE NOTE: This work is framed with UF3 Plexiglass. Clean only with a soft cloth using mild soap & water. Check after 10 years. Framed in 1991.

UF3 is a museum-grade UV filtering type of Plexiglass. As the plastic ages it can take on a yellow cast affecting its appearance but not impairing its ability to filter UV. I see no sign of any discoloration of the Plexiglass so this engraving may have been stored for some time or at least hung on a wall where the light levels were low.

The handsome contemporary wood frame is 23.25" x 28.75" x 1.25". It's in very good condition but the inner gilt border has a little inconspicuous wear. This framed engraving weighs 7 lb. 7 oz.

As far as I can determine this is the only copy of this antique engraving currently on the market.

I also have a companion Nozeman-Sepp engraving of Fringilla domestica, the House Sparrow, today called Passer domestica, in a matching frame listed on eBay.

If you're dissatisfied with this framed engraving in any way, you can return it in the same condition in which you received it within 14 days for a full refund.  Shipping will be by UPS Ground with no additional handling charge.  Washington state residents pay 9.6% state and local sales tax.  Possibility of free pickup or delivery in the Seattle area.