Thorburn's Birds

Last week I posted news of a sale of Audubon's Birds of America (CLICK). Today it's the turn of Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935), the Scottish artist famous for his wildlife paintings and especially for his ornithological illustrations. His 4-volume British Birds (1915-18) is a collector's item. In 1967 James Fisher wrote new text and published it in a single volume as Thorburn's Birds. The edition you're likely to find in your local library is that which was revised by John Parslow in 1975. Above is one of Thorburn's largest paintings, The Covey at Daybreak, which comes up for sale in London at Bonhams' auction of 19th Century Paintings on 27 January 2011, estimated value £100,000 - £150,000. Click the title link to see this painting in more detail.