William Lewin | The Birds of Great Britain, 8 volumes in 4, 1800

William Lewin.

The Birds of Great Britain. London: printed for J. Johnson, 1800 [watermarks 1815]

Second edition, 8 volumes bound in 4, 4to (304 x 240mm.), text in English and French, hand-coloured etched plates, 278 of birds and 57 (of 58), of eggs, indexes at end of each volume, nineteenth-century quarter roan, lacking egg plate 14, occasional light spotting, three volumes rebacked retaining original gilt label to spine, corners worn, volume 5 book block cracked after text leaf 40

The first edition of this work was published in very few copies, and entirely illustrated by original watercolours. This second edition was produced using etchings made by Lewin himself, or members of his family following his death in 1795.

PROVENANCE:

Thomas William Giffard (1789–1861), of Chillington Hall, Staffordshire, ownership inscriptions, some dated 1823 or 1824; thence by descent

LITERATURE:

Anker 306; Fine Bird Books, p. 91; Nissen IVB 562; Wood, p. 435; Zimmer, p. 395