Professionally Mounted Original Antique (c1870) Hand Coloured Plate - Gannet

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  • Regular price $50.00


Professionally Mounted Original Antique (c1870) Hand Coloured Plate - Gannet.

This lovely and unique print produced in a collaboration between The Rev F.O. Morris and Benjamin Fawcett is published on cream-colored medium weight high quality paper. It is blank on the reverse & is in excellent condition for it's age, with no foxing or damage showing within the mount. 

The plate has been professionally hinged onto a specially cut high quality warm-white mat, and mounted onto a foam core backing. The overall mount is ready to frame, & has been deliberately sized to suit a standard frame, should you wish to buy one 'off the shelf' rather than have the print professionally framed.  

These prints are wonderful on their own, or framed and hung together as a set.

Measurements:

Approximate actual print size - 165 x 250mm

Mat window size - 153 x 235mm

Overall mat size 28 x 35.5cm - to suit 11 x 14" standard frames. 

The Rev. F.O. Morris (1810 - 1893), an Irish parson-naturalist, in particular an ornithologist and entomologist, was a notable author of multiple children books as well as books on natural history & heritage buildings. Morris collaborated for many years with renowned English printer Benjamin Fawcett, & it is believed Alexander Francis Lydon, who was one of Fawcett's principal engravers, probably illustrated these hand coloured plates.

The popularity of these prints by Morris has made them increasingly scarce. These prints are now more than 145 years old.

Their survival in such good condition for their age gives credit to the superb skills and techniques of Fawcett, which are now largely lost. He selected, ground, and mixed his inks with the utmost care. Only paper stock of the finest quality was used. The illustrations were made with wood engravings, & coloured by hand. 

Please note that the prints on offer are genuine vintage or antique, & therefore being offered as 'one off's'. You will not find them readily available to buy, or on display in someone else home. This makes them special, but the downside is if you miss out on one that you have your eye on I may not be able to source it again for you. If you would like a bigger set, please contact me as I may have more available in the collection.