Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 558

WILLUGHBY, Francis (1635-1672). The Ornithology, edited by John Ray. London: A[ndrew] C[larke] for John Martyn, 1678.

Auction 26.01.2006
26 Jan 2006 - 27 Jan 2006
Estimate
£4,000 - £6,000
ca. US$7,057 - US$10,586
Price realised:
£22,800
ca. US$40,227
Auction archive: Lot number 558

WILLUGHBY, Francis (1635-1672). The Ornithology, edited by John Ray. London: A[ndrew] C[larke] for John Martyn, 1678.

Auction 26.01.2006
26 Jan 2006 - 27 Jan 2006
Estimate
£4,000 - £6,000
ca. US$7,057 - US$10,586
Price realised:
£22,800
ca. US$40,227
Beschreibung:

WILLUGHBY, Francis (1635-1672). The Ornithology, edited by John Ray London: A[ndrew] C[larke] for John Martyn, 1678. 2° (352 x 221mm). Title printed in red and black, text diagrams, 80 engraved plates, ANNOTATED AND EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE EDWARDS WITH 5 FEATHER SPECIMENS, 8 ORIGINAL DRAWINGS AND 29 ENGRAVINGS, including 14 from Edwards' A Natural History of Uncommon Birds , one counter-proof (plate 133), a finished original drawing (plate 106), and numerous sketches from that work, most in newer window-mounts as the final 33 leaves. (Lacking 2 letterpress tables, some staining.) Contemporary calf panelled in blind (somewhat worn, rebacked). Provenance : George Edwards (1694-1773, ornithologist, inscriptions dated 1733-1734, bookplate) -- Joseph Cockfield of Upton, Essex (bookplate) -- C.F.G.R. Schwerdt (bookplate; his sale, 11 March 1946, lot 2157). GEORGE EDWARDS' COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, LATER OWNED BY SCHWERDT. In this celebrated ornithology, 'one of the fairest monuments that marks the progress of scientific natural history' (Keynes), Edwards has added observations on a number of birds, sometimes stating where he has studied them, such as the parrot in the possession of Lord Duncannon in 1747, the Duke of Portland's Pauxi and Sir Hans Sloane's pelican from the West Indies; he has also made original drawings of birds or details of their anatomy, leaving little doubt that he was using his copy of Willughby not only for reference but as a preparatory notebook for his own publications. For instance, his manuscript observations on the Puffin of the Isle of Man (p. 334), dated 1762, were incorporated into the last volume of Gleanings of Natural History , published two years later in 1764 (p.315); and his observations on the pelican from the West Indies appear in A Natural History of Birds , part II, p.93. He also preserved numerous engravings from his works, one in counter-proof, and actual specimens. Among the latter are feathers from a Caryocatactes, Jaguacati, Balearic crane, Tringa, Bustard, and 'tongue of a Toucan'. The Schwerdt catalogue states that the bustard feathers preserved here are 'of great importance because the bird, which used to breed in East Anglia, has been extinct in Great Britain and Ireland for a considerable time'; it was reintroduced to Salisbury Plain in 2004. Sir Hans Sloane had Edwards appointed bedell of the Royal College of Physicians in 1733 with responsibility for the library, and he conducted his studies and drawings at the college. Among the additional engravings are those by James Roberts W. Hollar, Barlow, and a Patagonian Penguin (described by Pennant). Keynes Ray 39; Nissen IVB 991; Norman II,1792; Wing W-2880.

Auction archive: Lot number 558
Auction:
Datum:
26 Jan 2006 - 27 Jan 2006
Auction house:
Christie's
London, King Street
Beschreibung:

WILLUGHBY, Francis (1635-1672). The Ornithology, edited by John Ray London: A[ndrew] C[larke] for John Martyn, 1678. 2° (352 x 221mm). Title printed in red and black, text diagrams, 80 engraved plates, ANNOTATED AND EXTRA-ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE EDWARDS WITH 5 FEATHER SPECIMENS, 8 ORIGINAL DRAWINGS AND 29 ENGRAVINGS, including 14 from Edwards' A Natural History of Uncommon Birds , one counter-proof (plate 133), a finished original drawing (plate 106), and numerous sketches from that work, most in newer window-mounts as the final 33 leaves. (Lacking 2 letterpress tables, some staining.) Contemporary calf panelled in blind (somewhat worn, rebacked). Provenance : George Edwards (1694-1773, ornithologist, inscriptions dated 1733-1734, bookplate) -- Joseph Cockfield of Upton, Essex (bookplate) -- C.F.G.R. Schwerdt (bookplate; his sale, 11 March 1946, lot 2157). GEORGE EDWARDS' COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, LATER OWNED BY SCHWERDT. In this celebrated ornithology, 'one of the fairest monuments that marks the progress of scientific natural history' (Keynes), Edwards has added observations on a number of birds, sometimes stating where he has studied them, such as the parrot in the possession of Lord Duncannon in 1747, the Duke of Portland's Pauxi and Sir Hans Sloane's pelican from the West Indies; he has also made original drawings of birds or details of their anatomy, leaving little doubt that he was using his copy of Willughby not only for reference but as a preparatory notebook for his own publications. For instance, his manuscript observations on the Puffin of the Isle of Man (p. 334), dated 1762, were incorporated into the last volume of Gleanings of Natural History , published two years later in 1764 (p.315); and his observations on the pelican from the West Indies appear in A Natural History of Birds , part II, p.93. He also preserved numerous engravings from his works, one in counter-proof, and actual specimens. Among the latter are feathers from a Caryocatactes, Jaguacati, Balearic crane, Tringa, Bustard, and 'tongue of a Toucan'. The Schwerdt catalogue states that the bustard feathers preserved here are 'of great importance because the bird, which used to breed in East Anglia, has been extinct in Great Britain and Ireland for a considerable time'; it was reintroduced to Salisbury Plain in 2004. Sir Hans Sloane had Edwards appointed bedell of the Royal College of Physicians in 1733 with responsibility for the library, and he conducted his studies and drawings at the college. Among the additional engravings are those by James Roberts W. Hollar, Barlow, and a Patagonian Penguin (described by Pennant). Keynes Ray 39; Nissen IVB 991; Norman II,1792; Wing W-2880.

Auction archive: Lot number 558
Auction:
Datum:
26 Jan 2006 - 27 Jan 2006
Auction house:
Christie's
London, King Street
Try LotSearch

Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!

  • Search lots and bid
  • Price database and artist analysis
  • Alerts for your searches
Create an alert now!

Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.

Create an alert