Rare collectible: Mauritius Blue Pigeon bone and original drawing by Julian Hume

About the Mauritius Blue Pigeon

The Mauritius Blue Pigeon, or Alectroenas nitidissimus, was a stunning bird endemic to Mauritius, now tragically extinct since the 1830s. Known as "Pigeon Hollandais" due to its tri-coloured plumage resembling the Dutch flag, the bird was a vivid emblem of natural beauty. Its diet consisted mainly of fruits, and its rarity was noted as early as the 18th century, with deforestation and hunting accelerating its decline.

A fascinating historical anecdote adds intrigue to its legacy: in the late 18th century, a captive bird belonging to William V, Prince of Orange, was reportedly stolen by the French king. It was later paraded in Paris as part of a royal menagerie, symbolizing both the bird’s rarity and the rivalry between nations.

Unique opportunity

This offering includes an extraordinarily rare bone of the Mauritius Blue Pigeon, potentially the only specimen in private hands. Only a handful of museums globally, including the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and the Mauritius Natural History Museum, hold remains of this species. The bone represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a piece of natural history from a species whose fossil record only began to emerge in the 21st century.

Paired artwork by Julian Hume

Accompanying this relic is a magnificent painting by Julian Pender Hume, renowned for his scientifically informed depictions of extinct birds. Rendered in acrylic on paper, this artwork vividly captures the Mauritius Blue Pigeon’s beauty. Hume’s works are featured in prestigious collections such as London’s Natural History Museum and private collections worldwide, making this pairing a blend of art and history.

A Piece of history for collectors

This unparalleled combination of an extinct species' physical relic and masterful artistic tribute is an opportunity that transcends time, blending natural history, art, and cultural legacy. Ideal for collectors, historians and naturalists, this piece invites you to preserve and celebrate a remarkable chapter of our shared heritage.