Antique Ornithology Western Grebe Lithograph 1859 USPRR Exp & Survey Plate Frame

Antique Ornithology, Western Grebe Lithograph which was part of the 1859 United States Pacific Railroad Exploration & Survey (see below for detail on the expeditions). This plate is number 38 and falls into the studies of 47th Parallel (Montana). The Western Grebe is an elegant presence on lakes and ocean coasts of western North America. It is renowned for a ballet-like courtship display in which male and female “run” across the water in synchrony, their long necks curved in an S-shape. In very good condition with archival matting and a vintage wood frame. The paper is clean and unblemished, colors vibrant and lines are clear. Reference details are engraved at the top of the plate. The plate alone measures 9" x 6 3/4" and framed measures 13 3/4" x 11 3/4" x 1/2". A lovely piece that reflects history, art and science all at once, nicely framed and ready to hang in a traditional or modern setting, adding a natural element to a wall, shelf or table.

The Pacific Railroad Surveys (1853–1855) consisted of a series of explorations of the American West to find possible routes for a transcontinental railway across North America. The expeditions included surveyors, scientists, and artists and resulted in an immense body of data covering at least 400,000 square miles of the American West. These volumes are considered to be the most important single contemporary source of knowledge on Western geography and history and their value is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of many beautiful plates in color of scenery, native inhabitants, fauna and flora of the Western country. Published by the US War Department from 1855 to 1860, the surveys contained significant material on natural history, including many illustrations of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. In addition to describing the route, these surveys also reported on the geology, zoology, botany, paleontology of the land as well as provided ethnographic descriptions of the Native peoples encountered during the surveys. (taken from Wikipedia page on USPRR)