A reproduction of Alexander Wilson’s hand-colored scientific illustration of the Carolina Parrot from American Ornithology is now available for purchase at Spartanburg Regional History Museum or at its online gift shop.
This print, which depicts the Carolina Parrot as well as the Canada Flycatcher, Hooded Flycatcher and Green black-capt Flycatcher, was copied from an example in Spartanburg County Historical Association’s collection. The original was donated for the restoration of Walnut Grove Plantation.
Alexander Wilson, sometimes called the father of American Ornithology, was a Scottish-American ornithologist who published a nine-volume collection of illustrations of North American birds, which was the first major scientific work published in the United States. This illustration is from the first volume, published in 1808.
Purchases of these prints are tax-free and proceeds from the sale support conservation of historic prints. Prints are available for $10 at the Spartanburg Regional History Museum, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, or for $15 online at SpartanburgHistory.org.