Name: Anne Hall Antique Prints
Price range: $$$

Looking for 18th & 19th century bookplates of owls? Our antique owl prints are lithographs & engravings over 100 years old. We have ones of Scops, Eagle, Snowy, Hawk & Great Horned Owls. Authors & artists include Thomas Pennant, John Gould, Compte de Buffon, Edward Lear, Susemihl, F.O. Morris & Mark Catesby. Owl translates to Strix, bubo, ibis and noctua in Latin; Hibou in French; Eule in German.

Find and learn about antique lithographs engravings by John Gould and other early ornithologists.

Find valuations on antique owl lithographs and engravings when you visit our website.

Framed Antique Prints of Owls American Species from 1802

A set of three framed pieces of American owls. These spectacular etchings published France over 220 years ago. The artwork printed in colors from etched plates with oil based paints. After, watercolors added by hand enhanced the plumage of the owl, making it lifelike. The work is that of Jean Baptiste Audebert and Louis Pierre Viellot. Audebert was an ornithology painter but worked in miniature sizes for most of his life. He lived to be 41 but thankfully published this important work with Viellot. Viellot was an accomplished taxidermist and writer, specializing in birds.

The set of three pieces are North American species of owls: Snowy, Great Horned & Great Grey. Each antique print has been meticulously framed using archival materials. Double rag matting and UV glass. The picture frame is a 2″ wide, flat high gloss burlwood. Each piece measures (@18×27). Expensive call Anne at 413-245-4197 for details.

Viellot & Audebert Snowy Owl antique engraving — Strix nyctea Snowy Owl

Spectacular 18th century hand colored engraving of Eagle Owl. — Strix nyctea Snowy Owl

Framed c.1766 Thomas Pennant Antique Engravings of Owls

Thomas Pennant was a Welch naturalist and travelling writer who lived in the mid 18th century. During 1761-1766, in London, he published The British Zoology. A large folio book with lifelike hand-colored engravings. The artist engravers were Peter Mazell and Peter Paillou. It was while travelling Europe that he befriended Compte de Buffon. Each piece has been personally framed using archival materials & UV glass by Anne Hall. Each framed piece measures 28×34″. Call 413-245-4197 to discuss the pair. Add to the pair by making a trio with an additional Pennant raptor, framed. Expensive.

Exceptional folio 18th century engravings of owls by Pennant and Paillou.

200+ Year Old Hand-Colored Engravings of Owls by Nozeman & Sepp

The beautiful pair of owls sourced from Nederlandsche Vogelen. The rare ornithology books published Amsterdam 1770-1829. Authored by Cornilius Nozeman, Jan Sepp & Christian Sepp and Martinus Houttuyn. It took an astonishing 59 years to complete. Originally hand-colored copper plate engravings on hand made laid rag paper. Each piece is in excellent condition and measures 14.5 x 21″.

The first pair of strixes (owls) ulula are sold as a pair. Both the male and females striges are striking top images. The depth in the watercolors is exceptional. P.O.R. Call Anne 413-245-4197.

Cornelius Nozeman, Christian Sepp Nederlansch Vogelen, sourced engraving of screech owls. — Nozeman Male Strix ulula Sold with Female

Magnificent 200 plus year old hand-colored engraving of the screech owls nest and eggs. — Nozeman Male Strix ulula Sold with Female

Beautiful 200 year old engraving of long-eared owl and her egg. — Nozeman Long Ear Strix

200 plus year old Nozeman Sepp scops ear owl that camouflages into with a tree for protection. — Nozeman Scops Ear Owl

John Gould Owls: Antique Lithographs c.1860-1875

John Gould had a passion for Ornithology. As a result, Gould illustrated world class works on birds from 1832-1888. Gould’s birds had to be completed by his associates, after his death until 1888. Issued in parts by subscription, which were published in London, England. Below is a selection of John Gould, original water-colored lithographs.

Our John Gould birds are English hand-colored lithographs. They published London from c.1860-1875. This is an assortment from Birds of Great Britain, Birds of Europe and Birds of Australia. The books were issued to subscribers in parts, in a large folio size. Illustrated with the greatest detail as bookplates. Each piece measures 14 3/4 x 21 1/2″. Priced $850. and up. Call 413-245-4197 to inquire if you are interested in purchasing one.

Spectacular depiction of lesser horned owl or the Northern long-ear owls with owlets. 170 year old John Gould watercolor lithograph sourced from his Birds of Great Britain. — Otus Vulgaris Gould Lithograph from Birds of Great Britain

John Gould Barn owls and owlets, a 170 year old lithograph from Birds of Great Britain — Otus Vulgaris Gould Lithograph from Birds of Great Britain

Spectacular original John Gould Snowy Owl antique lithograph sourced from Gould's Birds of Great Britain c.1860.

Striking antique lithograph over 170 years old of strixes. — Gould Strix Indica from Birds of Great Britain

Speckled or mottled owl. — Gould Syrnium Ocellatum from Birds of Great Britain

Strix Candida Barn Owls from Birds of Great Britain

Stunning depictionUral Owl watercolor lithograph by John Gould. Anne Hall Antique Prints only handle, original Gould Birds. Our prints are almost 150 years old. — Ural Owl Gould Antique Lithograph from Birds of Europe published in 1832-37 English, original antique hand colored lithograph. Matted 22×28″

Framed 18th Century Antique Engravings | Compte de Buffon

Wonderful, mid Eighteenth-Century hand-colored copper-plate engravings, on hand made laid rag paper by perhaps the most famous French naturalist George LeClerc Compte de Buffon. Published for his amazing encyclopedic collection of all fauna known, Histoire Naturelle was published from 1749-1761 in Paris and Amsterdam.

Each piece is framed beautifully in a weathered solid wood frame about 2 1/2″ wide. High quality double archival matting with a hint of cream and UV glass. Complete details about the engravings are attached to the reverse. Each of the framed antique engravings, measures 16 x 19″ and are priced at $475. each or the four for $1600. Call Anne at 413-245-4197 to place your order.

Antique owls engraving souced from Compte de Buffon's Histoire Naturelle — Framed Buffon Engraving Chat Huant

The Art, of 19th Century Lithography

To create a lithograph, a special limestone piece was drawn upon with a sort of a greasy crayon. The slab of limestone was then dipped into nitric acid which burnt away parts not under the greasy crayon. The slab of limestone was wiped off and inked up, and printed. Later watercolors could be professionally added.

Edouard Travies Folio Les Oiseaux les Plus Remarquables 1857

An action filled depiction of a Barn Owl with wings spread. Catching a small mammal. Full of action. Hand watercolor lithograph from 1857 by Edouard Travies. The title of his book is Les Oiseaux les Plus Remarqables. The book focuses on the most remarkable birds. From observation in the wild, birds are recorded in different positions & compositions. An unusual way to illustrate subjects compared to other great bird books of the 19th century. Somewhat scarce as the books rarely come to market. Travie’s Barn Owl is in excellent condition. Intense watercolors in caramels & soft blues. Shown double matted to 22×28″

Hand watercolor lithograph of Barn Owl with wings extended. Sourced lithograph 1857 by Edouard Travies. The title of his book is Les Oiseaux les Plus Remarqables. — Travies folio Barn Owl

Edward Lear Great Grey Owl from John Gould’s Birds of Europe 1832-1837

One of the most remarkable images ever published on the Great Grey. Full folio, hand colored lithograph. Published for Birds of Europe by John Gould 1832-1837. Mint condition, strong color, measuring 14 3/4 x 21 1/2. Sold. Call Anne at 413-245-4197 if you are interested in other Edward Lear plates.

Great Cinereous Owl surced from John Gould Edward Lear's Birds of Europe 1832-1837. — Edward Lear Owls Great Grey

Reverend Morris Antique Engravings from 1890

Morris published his work on birds in 1890. These are English hand colored wood engravings were produced by Reverend F.O. Morris and his entire congregation. Morris loved birds which is apparent in the illustrations he authored and published books on birds, eggs and nests.

Antique owl engravings with original hand coloring including the Hawk, Mottled, and the Snowy. Each antique hand colored engraving from 1890 measures about 6 1/2 x 10″. Excellent condition with bright water coloring. Click here to contact us.

How were these boxwood engravings crafted in the 19th century?

FIRST… Original illustrations needed to be procured in the Strix’s natural state, from specimens or by seeing other naturalists work on the subject. The illustrations were transferred onto boxwood plates which measured about 1″ thick. Boxwood was an available wood in Great Britain and was easily engravable. Each slab of wood was carefully engraved with special engraver’s tools known as burins and when the owls-antique engravings were finished to satisfaction, the engravings were ready for printing. Each engraving was carefully inked up with black ink by a skilled craftsman that operated a printing press. The inked boxwood plate was pressed onto a high quality piece of paper. After the ink dried, the water color illumination was added by hand.