Giclee reprint of an original lithograph from John Gould’s The Birds of Australia.. This monumental, seven-volume landmark series published by English ornithologist John Gould between 1840 and 1848. As the first comprehensive survey of Australian birdlife, the expansive work featured 681 imperial folio-sized plates meticulously produced via hand-colored lithographs. To document the continent's distinct wildlife, Gould and his artist wife, Elizabeth Gould, bravely journeyed to Australia in 1838 to observe and collect species directly from nature. Elizabeth acted as the principal illustrator alongside other artists like H.C. Richter. Together, they described 328 species completely new to Western science, famously bringing the beloved budgerigar to British popularity. 

This plate features the "Delicate Owl" , known today as the Eastern Barn Owl. Captured in a quiet and elegant lithograph, the bird is depicted with a signature heart-shaped facial disc and soft, mottled plumage. Gould used the descriptor delicatulus to highlight the fine, silky texture of its feathers compared to European counterparts.