The Birds of Australia, Vol. 5 of 7

by John Gould

"The Birds of Australia, Vol. 5 of 7" by John Gould is a natural history work published between 1840 and 1848. This monumental survey documented 681 Australian bird species, with 328 previously unknown to Western science. Created after Gould's expedition to Australia with his wife Elizabeth, the work features hand-colored lithographic plates based on hundreds of drawings made from collected specimens. Originally issued to 250 subscribers, it stands as the first comprehensive study of Australia's avian life.