Beschreibung:

Sir William Strickland 5th Baronet (1753-1834, artist) An album of original ornithological watercolours titled Illustrations of British Zoology. but chiefly that of the East Riding of Yorkshire. by William Strickland of Boynton. Vol. I . [no date but watercolours dated between 1770 and 1804 and text including date 1813]. 2° (411 x 320mm). 106 leaves: i.e. title (verso blank); 92pp. text on 49 leaves; 47 original pen, ink and watercolour drawings by William Strickland all within ink and wash borders (five mounted to size, all but two signed with initials and dated); 2 original watercolour drawings by John William Lewin mounted to size within a thick ruled black-ink border, signed 'J.W.Lewin P: 1793'; original watercolour in an unknown hand of three fish; 6 blank leaves. Original diced russia gilt, covers with outer border of a 'greek-key' roll, the flat spine divided into seven unequal compartments by a wide fillet flanked by roll tools, green morocco lettering-piece in the second compartment lettered 'BRITISH ZOOLOGY', the third compartment lettered 'M.S.S.', the fourth 'VOL:1.', gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges (extremities rubbed and scuffed, hinges weak). Provenance : Sir William Strickland (Boynton Hall, Bridlington, Yorkshire, armorial bookplate) -- by descent. A FINE ALBUM OF ORIGINAL ORNITHOLOGICAL WATERCOLOURS BY A HITHERTO UNRECORDED NATURAL HISTORY ARTIST OF THE FIRST RANK. The album concentrates on waterbirds and waders. Each drawing is accompanied by fair-copy text, apparently taken from Sir William's rough notes by his third daughter Emma Strickland (she has signed the title). The text adhers to the correct scientific method of the time: each subject is identified according to the Linnean system by order, species and genus, followed by a brief description in Latin and an identification using the common English name with a cross-reference to Pennant (or other authority). A lengthy physical description in English follows, ending with dimensions, weight and scale of the drawing. This is followed by comments on the bird by Strickland: habits, numbers, breeding, frequency with which it occurs in Yorkshire and occasionally where the particular specimen was obtained. The drawings are clearly portraits of actual bird specimens (rather than copies from other's work) and this is confirmed by the text. The spread of dates (from 1770 when Sir William was 17, through to 1804) show both the artist's increasing confidence and ability, as well as demonstrating that ornithology was clearly a life-long fascination to him. There is a hiatus between 1793 and 1796 (during this period Sir William is known to have made a tour of the United States), and it is probable that, after inheriting the Baronetcy on the death of his father in 1808, Sir William would have had less time to pursue what would have been viewed as merely a hobby. The two Lewin drawings demonstrate an interesting link between the 'professional' and the 'amateur' artist. The text which accompanies the first of the Lewin drawings notes that 'This drawing was executed for me by Lewin, Author of the works on British Birds [incorrect, John William Lewin (1770-1819), the artist of the present drawings, was the son of the author William Lewin (1747-1795)], from a bird bought in a Poulterer's Shop in London said to have been sent from the Fens of Lincolnshire'. The Strickland family were clearly highly talented and Sir George Strickland (1729-1808, Sir William's father) seems to have been ahead of his time in that having created a stimulating intellectual atmosphere at Boynton where he encouraged all his children (male and female) and their families to participate. In addition to the present work, a number of related albums are recorded by Sir William's sisters Charlotte (1759-1833) and Juliana Sabina (1765-1849) and his niece(?) Frances: these concentrated on botany, ran to at least 12 volumes, and were presented in a similar format under the general title '