While our images are electronically watermarked, the antique prints themselves are not.

King of the Vultures GDS51 $45
Each print measures approximately 9 1/2 inches by 6 1/4 inches.

We are very pleased to present this wonderful selection of prints from the Fullerton edition of Goldsmith’s A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, c1850. Oliver Goldsmith was born the son of a country parson & spent the formative years of his childhood in the rectory of Kilkenny West on a farm of some 70 acres.  From these years, he derived his love of natural beauty and the English rural scenes and characters on which so much of his later work was based.  Sent to University at Trinity College Dublin, he was an indifferent student, more caught up in leisurely pursuits & the life of country society.  His friends and family tried repeatedly to start him on a career track but he failed repeatedly at multiple career attempts, including the ministry, law & the practice of medicine.  Finally settling down to a life of a literary hack he wrote articles & works for booksellers, often published anonymously.  He gathered around him a circle of literary friends, including Boswell & Dr. Johnson, the great literary luminary of the day, who became his life long friend & supporter.  During one of Goldsmith’s all too frequent financial crises, Johnson arranged the sale of the novel Vicar of Wakefield, which went on to become an English classic.  At the time, the bookseller thought so little of it he did not publish it for two years.

Goldsmith went on to write & publish many works.  The most enduring of them is certainly A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, first published in 1774, then in over 20 editions during the next 225 years, the last in 1990, with a foreword by Gerard Durrell. He died a premature death at the age of 45, beset by financial worries and poor health.   He was buried in Westminster Abbey 1774, where his epitaph, written by Dr. Johnson affirms natural history's importance in Goldsmith's career:

“To the Memory of Oliver Goldsmith, poet, naturalist and historian.”

We are pleased to offer original hand colored prints from the Fullerton edition of this work, with particularly beautifully drawn and colored natural tableaux of birds, mammals, fish, shells & insects. Each print measures approximately 9 1/2 inches by 6 1/4 inches and is in good condition. A copy of the title page will be included.

We accept credit cards, PayPal, checks, and money orders. Washington state residents pay Washington state sales tax. Shipping for this item is $8.95. Items can be combined to save on postage. Our environment is smoke free. We pack professionally using only new materials. All items are beautifully wrapped and suitable for sending directly as gifts. You may return any item within 7 days if not satisfied. To order, you may call us at 1-888-PANTEEK, fax or email.