Feathered Favourites: Twelve Coloured Pictures of British Birds

Description:

First edition. Scarce. A charming Victorian work comprising twelve exquisite tissue-guarded chromolithographic plates after watercolour drawings by Joseph Wolf (1820–1899), one of the most celebrated natural history artists of the nineteenth century. Each plate consists of a circular colour image of a bird in its natural habitat, mounted on card stock with an ornate, rustic, gilt-printed frame. The featured species include: House Sparrow, Wren, Blackcap, Swallow, Woodpecker, Water Wagtail, Titmouse, Kingfisher, Woodlark, Swan, Eagle, and Wild Duck. The illustrations were highly regarded by C.T. Courtney Lewis, who described them as “an advanced chromolithographic production… by an unknown lithographer. Showing alike an elegant style and advanced chromolithography.” The story of Picture Printing, 1927.

Each image is accompanied by poetic extracts from notable authors adding literary charm to the visual appeal of this work. Poets include: Anna Laetitia Barbauld; Barry Cornwall; William Cullen Bryant; Robert Burns; John Clare; Rev. F.W. Faber; Robert Franklin; James Grahame; William Hayley; Felicia Hemans; Mary Howitt; William Howitt; Hargrave Jennings; Bishop Richard Mant; John Milton; James Montgomery; Thomas Moore; Charlotte Smith; Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Anna Laetitia Waring.

The Royal Collections note that a copy of this work was presented by Queen Victoria to Prince Albert on 1st January 1854, highlighting the work’s prestige at the highest social level.

Mullens & Swann p. 659; Nissen IVB 1009.

Condition

Sm. 4to (250x183mm), cont. red full morocco, blind-stamped dec. frame to both boards, with gilt-ruled border and gilt motifs to corners; spine with raised bands, gilt tooling to compartments, edges of boards and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, aeg. Boards rubbed/scuffed to extremities with some wear to corners; front hinge cracked, but firm. Short closed tear to edge of frontispiece. Occasional light foxing. Vg.