Selby, Prideaux John | "Jack-daw | Magpie," copper printing plate from Illustrations of British Ornithology

Selby, Prideaux John

"[Plate XXXI] Jack-daw | Magpie," from Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edinburgh and London: (1821-) 1834 (-1839)

Etched copper printing plate (545 x 420 mm), plate-maker's stamp on verso ("Willm. Pontifex Son & Co./ No 46/ Shoe Lane London"). [With:] An uncolored proof print from the plate (640 x 510 mm); one or two faint spots.

A fine original copper printing plate from "the finest and largest book about British Birds" (Jackson).

The present lot was used to print plate 31 from Selby's major work. Christine Jackson writes of the prints: "The copper plates were superbly executed and the monochrome printed plates have an austere beauty unmatched in other bird books illustrated by line. Every feather is clearly visible, with all the details of the large flight feathers and the softer plumage standing out in immaculate precision. Tone, shade, and texture were all exploited to the fullest extent and demonstrate the best of which copper etching and engraving were capable" (Bird Etchings 1985, p.204).

Natural history and ornithology had been Selby's passion from childhood, and as Christine Jackson notes, besides "collecting and preserving birds, Selby had observed them in the field, making careful notes of their habitat and habits. At his leisure, he also sensitively colored drawings of them. With this accumulation of practical knowledge, specimens, and some drawings, Selby embarked in 1819 on an ambitious project to publish the most up-to-date, life-size illustrations of British birds. Since he had an incomplete pictorial record of his birds, many remained to be drawn while publication of the parts of the work proceeded. The aim was to issue each part comprising twelve plates at regular intervals of six months. The size of the paper chosen was elephant folio (27" x 211/2") in order that most of the birds might be represented life-size. For each plate, Selby made watercolor paintings of the species" (Sotheby's, the Collection of H. Bradley Martin).

"Selby etched his drawings on copper plates and then either took or sent the plates to William Home Lizars in Edinburgh. Either Lizars or one of his workmen took a pull [proof impression] from Selby's plate and worked on any parts necessary to bring the plate to a very fine state of completion. Selby and Sir William Jardine both purchased their copper plates and etching ground from Pontifex of London, and their letters refer to the progress made in drawing and 'biting' or etching their plates. If they made a mistake or accidently over-etched a plate, they relied on Lizars to correct by burnishing to lighten it" (Jackson, Bird Etchings pp. 202-204).

REFERENCES

Cf. Fine Bird Books (1990) p.141; cf. Nissen IVB 853; cf. Zimmer p.571