This work contains 36 plates by lithographed Joseph Smit from drawings by Joseph Wolf, and handcolored by J.D. White. Wolf was regarded as the greatest bird artist of his time. Among the birds of paradise there are some of the most colorful and spectacular birds, and these plates (with those of the male pheasants) proved that Wolf was equally talented at painting exotic, highly colourful birds ... and the published prints show the extraordinary coloration of the birds of paradise, including iridescent feathers’ (K. Schulze-Hagen & A. Geus, Joseph Wolf (1820-1899) animal painter, 212). In the preface of the book Elliot comments, "The drawings of Mr. Wolf will, I am sure, receive the admiration of those who see them; for, like all that artist's productions, they cannot be surpassed, if equalled, at the present time. Mr. J. Smit has lithographed the drawings with his usual conscientious fidelity, and his share of the work has left me nothing to desire... In the colouring of the plates Mr. J.D. White has faithfully followed the originals; and in the difficult portions where it was necessary to produce metallic hues, he has been very successful."

Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.