Western Jackdaw Print – Corvus Monedula by Nozeman and Sepp, 1797
This antique hand-coloured copperplate engraving shows the Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula), known in Dutch as the kauw. Perched on a mossy branch with an egg depicted alongside, the bird is rendered with remarkable detail, highlighting its ash-grey nape, pale eyes, and glossy black wings. Native across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa, the jackdaw is among the smallest members of the crow family and is a familiar sight in towns, farmland, and coastal cliffs.
The species was first described by Linnaeus, who classified it as Corvus monedula. Its common name derives from “jack,” meaning small, and “daw,” the old English word for the bird. In folklore and literature, jackdaws have long been noted for their intelligence and sociable nature, often nesting in chimneys, towers, or old ruins. Subspecies across its range vary slightly in plumage, but all share the characteristic silvery-grey collar that sets them apart from larger corvids.
This print originates from Nederlandsche Vogelen; volgens hunne huishouding, aert, en eigenschappen beschreeven (Amsterdam, 1770–1829), the first monumental attempt to document all birds found in the Netherlands. Initiated by Cornelis Nozeman and continued by Martinus Houttuyn, the project was illustrated and published by Christiaan Andreas Sepp and his successors. Each plate was carefully engraved and hand-coloured, offering both scientific accuracy and aesthetic refinement. The inclusion of the jackdaw, a familiar species in Dutch towns and countryside, reflects the series’ scope from common native birds to rarer or migratory species.
Original Dutch text pages are included, offering contemporary natural history descriptions of the jackdaw’s habits, voice, nesting behaviour, and social patterns.
Condition: Very good. Some age-related toning and light handling marks typical of 18th–early 19th century laid paper. Wide margins preserved, with visible plate mark.
Framing tips: A dark wooden or ebonised frame paired with a soft cream or pale grey mount will enhance the subtle grey tones of the plumage. For a more striking presentation, a black frame with a narrow gilt inner edge highlights the bird’s eye and wing sheen.
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.