Nürnberg, Adam Ludwig Wirsing, [1770-]1772. Two large, printed sheets (40.0 x 24.8 cm). Engraved and originally hand-coloured plate, numbered and captioned.

Two fine plates from possibly the first but certainly one of the most beautiful hand-coloured nidological works ever, and almost never found complete - even individual plates, such as these, of the bird, and its nest and eggs, are rare. With two different captions. However, the Rothschanz (black redstart) and "Garten Rothschwanz" ("garden redstart") are synonymous. "The black redstart is a small passerine bird in the genus Phoenicurus. Like its relatives, it was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, but is now known to be an Old World flycatcher. Other common names are Tithy's redstart, blackstart and black redtail" (Wikipedia). Apparently, this beautiful little songbird goes under several vernacular names, both in Germany and in Great Britain. The image is exceptionally large. The first author, Adam Ludwig Wirsing (1734-1798) was a versatile German engraver with a keen interest in natural history. The German medical doctor and naturalist (principally ornithologist) Friedrich Christian Günther (1726-1774) was responsible for the descriptive text. Uncut. With the widest possible margins. The colouring bright and accurate. Excellent, strong plates in fine and accurate original hand-colouring. Anker, 537; Nissen IVB, 1002; Sitwell, Fine Bird Books, 157; Not in Zimmer.