Meyer, Henry Leonard “Lapland Bunting”

Henry Leonard Meyer (1797-1865).  “Lapland Bunting” 

ca, 1835.  14 ¾ x 11 (paper size).  Original watercolor drawing for the series Illustrations of British Birds.  Not signed nor dated.    Minor smudge lower right hand side below egg, not affecting image.  Else, very good condition.  Fine Bird Books, p.123.  A/A

An original watercolor by Henry Leonard Meyer for his publication Illustrations of British Birds published between 1835-1841.  Even though the watercolor is not signed it is most definitely by Meyer as it is identical to the lithograph from the series, but with the print being in reverse.  In addition, the watercolor was acquired with several prints from the series.  As with all of Meyers depictions he showed both the male and female species with an example of their egg.  A finely executed drawing for a well known and important work on British ornithology.