Birds from Moidart and Elsewhere. Drawn from Nature by JB

Description:

First edition. Scarce. A series of descriptions, pictorial and literary, of bird-life in the southwestern corner of Inverness-shire with attractive lithographic plates drawn from nature by the authoress, Jemima Blackburn. Some of the plates had previously been published in her folio work, Birds drawn from Nature (1862, 1868). Jemima Wedderburn Blackburn (1823-1909) was a Scottish painter and illustrator best known for her work in natural history. Growing up as the daughter of the Solicitor-general of Scotland, her childhood was full of visits from eminent artists and scientists, so despite receiving no formal education she quickly became highly respected as an artist. The writer John Ruskin said that she was the best artist he knew, and eminent painter Sir Edwin Landseer claimed that 'in the drawing of animals he had nothing to teach her'. She would later go on to write and illustrate several works, including a number on British birds which elevated her to one of the most highly revered ornithological illustrators of her day.

Nissen IVB 107; Zimmer I 60; Anker 42.

Condition

8vo, orig. cloth, gilt title to spine and vignette to front board, top edge gilt, spine slightly faded. Vg. Inscribed by the author, 'To Kathleen Fullarton, from the author. Roshven 3rd October 1903', to recto of frontispeice.