Illustrations of British Birds No. 74 & No. 75

Description:

Henry Leonard Meyer (1797-1865) was an artist and naturalist of Dutch origin, who produced one of the finest ornithological work, Illustrations of British Birds, published in 79 parts between 1835 and 1841, with more than 300 hand-coloured lithographic plates depicting the birds and their eggs. Offered here are the first folio editions (imp. 4to) of No. 74 and No. 75, each with 4 fine hand-coloured lithographs. Meyer's wife, Mary Anne Moor, herself an accomplished artist, assisted in engraving the plates and may even have been responsible for some of the original drawings. The Meyers' son, Charles, and their three daughters undertook the hand-colouring of the plates. The subscriber's list, printed on the rear wrapper, includes The Queen Dowager and the King of the Belgians.

Mullens & Swann pp. 398-403.

Condition

2 parts, imp. 4to (385x285mm), original printed wrappers, slightly marked. Very good. The plates are beautiful, bright, and in fine condition.