George Edwards (1694-1773) A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and some other rare and undescripted Animals, Quadrupeds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, &c. . London: for the Author, [1739-]1743-1751. 4 volumes. Subscribers' list, general title in vol.I with engraved vignette, titles and text in French and English. Etched frontispiece to vol.I, 211 etched plates comprising 210 hand-coloured and one uncoloured 'Samoyed' plate. [ Uniformly bound with :] Gleanings of Natural History, exhibiting figures of Quadruped, Birds, Insects, Plants, &c. London: for the Author, 1758-1764. 3 volumes. Parallel titles and text in English and French. Engraved portrait of the author by J.S. Miller after B. Dandridge, engraved title vignette and tail-piece, 152 hand-coloured etched plates. 2 works in seven volumes, 4° (303 x 238mm). 20th-century uniform half-calf, spines in six compartments with raised bands, orange morocco lettering-piece in the second, dark blue morocco in the third, the remaining compartments with repeat decoration of a stylised bird on a branch tool, top edge gilt (section from foot of spine of vol.I of the first work lacking). Provenance : Francois-Joseph Menage de Mondesir (early armorial bookplate in vol.II of the second work). FIRST EDITION IN FINE CONDITION INTERNALLY. "At its date of issue, the Natural History and Gleanings was one of the most important of all Bird Books, both as a fine bird book and as a work of ornithology. It is still high on each list" ( Fine Bird Books ). In the first work in the present set, the french titles and text are bound at the back of each of the three volumes. "George Edwards was born at Stratford, Essex, and received his early education at a public school at Leytonstone, later being apprenticed to a tradesman in London. Having access to a large library of scientific books, Edwards studied these assiduously and, having made up his mind not to enter business, decided to travel abroad. Between 1716 and 1733 he visited many foreign countries but in December of the latter year settled down in London and, through the influence of Sir Hans Sloane, was chosen as Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians... Almost immediately after he was appointed... Edwards commenced the preparation of a series of coloured drawings of animals and birds, used later to illustrate [the present work]; for these he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society and subsequently elected a fellow." (Lisney p.127). Anker 124-126; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.93; Nissen IVB 286-288; Zimmer pp.192-198. Sold not subject to return. (7)
George Edwards (1694-1773) A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and some other rare and undescripted Animals, Quadrupeds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, &c. . London: for the Author, [1739-]1743-1751. 4 volumes. Subscribers' list, general title in vol.I with engraved vignette, titles and text in French and English. Etched frontispiece to vol.I, 211 etched plates comprising 210 hand-coloured and one uncoloured 'Samoyed' plate. [ Uniformly bound with :] Gleanings of Natural History, exhibiting figures of Quadruped, Birds, Insects, Plants, &c. London: for the Author, 1758-1764. 3 volumes. Parallel titles and text in English and French. Engraved portrait of the author by J.S. Miller after B. Dandridge, engraved title vignette and tail-piece, 152 hand-coloured etched plates. 2 works in seven volumes, 4° (303 x 238mm). 20th-century uniform half-calf, spines in six compartments with raised bands, orange morocco lettering-piece in the second, dark blue morocco in the third, the remaining compartments with repeat decoration of a stylised bird on a branch tool, top edge gilt (section from foot of spine of vol.I of the first work lacking). Provenance : Francois-Joseph Menage de Mondesir (early armorial bookplate in vol.II of the second work). FIRST EDITION IN FINE CONDITION INTERNALLY. "At its date of issue, the Natural History and Gleanings was one of the most important of all Bird Books, both as a fine bird book and as a work of ornithology. It is still high on each list" ( Fine Bird Books ). In the first work in the present set, the french titles and text are bound at the back of each of the three volumes. "George Edwards was born at Stratford, Essex, and received his early education at a public school at Leytonstone, later being apprenticed to a tradesman in London. Having access to a large library of scientific books, Edwards studied these assiduously and, having made up his mind not to enter business, decided to travel abroad. Between 1716 and 1733 he visited many foreign countries but in December of the latter year settled down in London and, through the influence of Sir Hans Sloane, was chosen as Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians... Almost immediately after he was appointed... Edwards commenced the preparation of a series of coloured drawings of animals and birds, used later to illustrate [the present work]; for these he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society and subsequently elected a fellow." (Lisney p.127). Anker 124-126; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.93; Nissen IVB 286-288; Zimmer pp.192-198. Sold not subject to return. (7)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
