Antique Swedish Bird Print, 1856 | Åkerlund Yellowhammer & Sparrows Lithograph For Sale

AJ | GILDED 1856 Swedish Yellowhammer & Songbirds Hand-Colored Lithograph · Peter Åkerlund (1835–1871)

This original hand-colored lithograph comes from Svenska foglarna (The Swedish Birds), an illustrated account of Sweden’s birdlife with text by the ornithologist Carl Jacob Sundevall (1801–1875). Beginning in 1856, the undertaking paired detailed written descriptions with bird illustrations drawn and lithographed by Peter Åkerlund. The completed atlas eventually contained 84 plates.

The project proved much longer than either of its original makers’ lives. Åkerlund died in 1871 and Sundevall in 1875, leaving Johan Gustaf Hjalmar Kinberg (1820–1908) to continue the text. The final volumes did not appear until 1886, thirty years after the work began. This early plate, with its yellowhammer, house sparrow, corn bunting, and reed bunting, belongs to the opening chapter of that remarkable undertaking.

Catalog Details Publication Svenska foglarna (The Swedish Birds) Illustrator & Lithographer Peter Åkerlund Date 1856 Medium Original antique hand-colored lithograph Sheet Size Approx. 12 W × 9.25 H in. Condition Very Good antique condition with visible age toning and scattered spotting, particularly in the margins. The bird illustrations retain clear detail and appealing original hand color. Archival Presentation This artwork is sold loose, unmatted, and unframed. Custom archival matting and framing may be arranged for an additional charge. Please message before purchase for available sizes, colors, and pricing. Sourcing & Preservation This is an original antique work from the published source, not a modern reproduction. AJ | Gilded is preservation-first and does not dismantle intact books. Works on paper are sourced as already-separated material, from incomplete or damaged volumes, or from prior collections. AJ | GILDED THOUGHTFULLY CURATED | TIMELESS AESTHETIC | ARCHIVAL TECHNIQUE