Buller’s Birds: The art of Keulemans and BuchananNgā manu a Buller
Over 140 years ago, two men created what remains New Zealand’s most famous book on native birds.
A History of the Birds of New Zealand combined the passion and knowledge of ornithologist Walter Buller with the talents of artist J G Keulemans. The first edition, of 1872–73, attracted subscriptions from luminaries like Charles Darwin, and a second edition was published in 1888. A less expensive 1882 alternative, the Manual of the Birds of New Zealand, included wood engravings by artist and botanist John Buchanan.
The exhibition showcases print reproductions of illustrations from the rare first edition, as well as of drawings and engravings relating to the later publications.
North Island kokako, 1865–1885, New Zealand, by John Buchanan. Te Papa (1992-0035-2279/34)
Tour schedule and availability
Buller’s Birds: The art of Keulemans and Buchanan exhibited at:
| Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Foxton | 23 November 2024 – 2 March 2025 |
| South Canterbury Museum, Timaru | 5 March – 30 May 2021 |
| Papakura Museum, Auckland | 5 December 2020 – 28 February 2021 |
| Motueka District Museum, Motueka | 1 August – 29 September 2019 |
| Nelson Provincial Museum, Nelson | 18 May – 22 July 2019 |
| Millennium Art Gallery, Blenheim | 2 February – 17 March 2019 |
| Aratoi – Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, Masterton | 18 February – 2 March 2017 |
| Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt | 1 August – 13 September 2015 |
| Tauranga Art Gallery, Tauranga | 13 June – 19 July 2015 |
Hosting enquiries
Jake Yocum, Touring Exhibition Manager
touringexhibitions@tepapa.govt.nz