Latham — Red Flamingo c.1790
Latham — Red Flamingo c.1790
The American or Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) — once native to South Florida before being extirpated in the late 19th century by plume hunters and habitat loss — is among the most instantly recognizable birds in the world. Latham's depiction captures the species' characteristic crimson-pink plumage, the distinctive down-curved bill, and the elegant S-shaped neck. Small populations have begun returning to South Florida in recent years, making this historic plate a record of both natural history and ongoing conservation recovery.
Pairs with: Our Roseate Spoonbill plate — see the pair listing for a Florida wading-bird diptych.
About John Latham (1740–1837)
John Latham was an English physician and ornithologist — a founding member of the Linnean Society of London and one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society of London to specialize in birds. He is credited with providing the first scientific descriptions of more than 50 Australian bird species, and his work was foundational for subsequent ornithological literature including the work of John Gould.
About the Work
Latham's A General Synopsis of Birds (London, 1781–1785, with supplements through 1801) and the later A General History of Birds (1821–1828) were landmark works illustrated with hand-colored engravings. The plates c.1790 from the Synopsis and its supplements are particularly prized for their depictions of tropical and subtropical species encountered during the first decades of extensive European Pacific exploration.
Scarcity & Market Context
Individual Latham hand-colored plates appear regularly at specialist print dealers and auction houses like Trillium, but particular subjects — the Florida birds (flamingo, spoonbill, roseate), Australian parrots, and other dramatic tropical species — are always in demand and command premium prices. Matched pairs (such as the Roseate Spoonbill and Red Flamingo) are especially scarce in original hand-colored condition with wide margins.
Institutional Holdings
Complete sets at the Natural History Museum (London), the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian, and major university natural-history libraries.
Dimensions
Sheet approximately 10 × 8 inches
Frame: This piece ships unframed — the sheet or plate only. We can recommend framers in your area or ship to your preferred framer. Professional framing with archival materials typically runs $150–$400 depending on size and finish.
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Important Buyer Notice
These pieces are antique originals, ranging from approximately 100 to over 400 years old. Each piece will show varying degrees of age-appropriate condition: paper toning, foxing, edge wear, fold marks, minor restoration, light staining, and other natural signs of age are common and expected for works of this period. Condition varies from piece to piece.
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