Morris antique bird prints, hand-colored engravings from 1851-1903

THE AVAILABLE PLATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW OF THE ENTIRE PLATE.

RAVEN

$75

Some foxing.

RAZOR-BILL

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Some foxing.

RAZOR-BILL

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE

$60

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet.

RED-BACKED SHRIKE

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet. Several unobtrusive fox marks.

REDBREAST

$50

Several unobtrusive fox marks.

RED-NECKED GREBE

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Some foxing, mainly in right margin.

RED-NECKED GREBE

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Light foxing, mostly in lower right margin.

RED-NECKED NIGHTJAR

$45

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE

$50

Scattered foxing

REDSHANK

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. A couple of fox marks.

REDSHANK

$50

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.

REDSTART

$50

Scattered light foxing

RED-THROATED DIVER

$45

Foxed

RED-THROATED PIPIT

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. A couple of fox marks.

RED-THROATED PIPIT

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring and image differences between editions. (This plate appears to have been totally re-engraved from the first ed.)

REDWING

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.

REDWING

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Light foxing, mainly around perimeter.

RED-WINGED STARLING

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet. Light foxing in margins.

REED BUNTING

$50

One or two faint fox marks.

RICHARD'S PIPIT

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.

RICHARD'S PIPIT

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.

RICHARDSON'S SKUA

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Some age toning, marks in margins.

RICHARDSON'S SKUA

$45

Later edition print...see prints to left and right for any colouring differences between editions.

RICHARDSON'S SKUA

$35

Later "Cabinet Edition" print, on smaller sheet (approx. 7¼ x 4¾ inches), and with an uncoloured "habitat." See prints to left for a larger sheet and coloured habitat.

RING DOVE

$50

Light scattered foxing.

RING OUZEL

$40

RINGED DOTTEREL

$55

RINGED GUILLEMOT

$50

ROCK PIPIT

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. A couple of fox marks.

ROCK PIPIT

$40

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.

ROCK THRUSH

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Light age toning, narrow bottom margin, as issued.

ROCK THRUSH

$50

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.

ROLLER

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...light age toning and faint text offset. A few light fox marks.

ROOK

$40

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.llight age toning and faint text offset. A few light fox marks..

ROOK

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.

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Antique Bird Prints Home

Rev. Francis Orpen Morris (1810-1893)	The inspiration for Francis Orpen Morris' A History of British Birds actually came from the renowned English printer, Benjamin Fawcett, who approached Morris to write the text when Morris became Vicar of Nafferton. Morris had a reputation as a popular writer on natural history in general and birds in particular. His first book, Guide to an Arrangement of British Birds, had appeared as early as 1834. However, his association with Benjamin Fawcett was to have remarkable results, particularly for the study of ornithology. A History of British Birds was entirely printed and bound in the small North Country village of Driffield, Fawcett’s residence and shop, and shipped in tea chests to London. It was a resounding success. Work on A History of British Birds probably began in 1848. Publication, which took over seven years to complete from June 1850, was undertaken in monthly parts costing one shilling. Each part contained 24 pages of letterpress and 4 hand-coloured plates. The final six volume work contained 358 coloured plates. One thousand copies of the first part were initially produced, but such was the demand that Fawcett quickly had to move into larger premises. Alexander Francis Lydon was one of Fawcett’s principal engravers, contributing much in technique and design. A team of women colourists under very strict scrutiny first from Fawcett then his wife (a former colourist herself) hand colored each plate. Morris became an early advocate for conservation and was instrumental in founding the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Various editions of A History of British Birds were published from circa 1851 to circa 1903. All were published with the hand-colouring of the time. [References include Fine Bird Books, p125 & Benjamin Fawcett, p 77.]

Rev. Francis Orpen Morris
(1810-1893)

The inspiration for Francis Orpen Morris' A History of British Birds actually came from the renowned English printer,
Benjamin Fawcett, who approached Morris to write the text when Morris became Vicar of Nafferton.
Morris had a reputation as a popular writer on natural history in general and birds in particular.
His first book, Guide to an Arrangement of British Birds, had appeared as early as 1834. However, his association
with Benjamin Fawcett was to have remarkable results, particularly for the study of ornithology.

A History of British Birds was entirely printed and bound in the small North Country village of Driffield,
Fawcett’s residence and shop, and shipped in tea chests to London. It was a resounding success.

Work on A History of British Birds probably began in 1848. Publication, which took over seven years to
complete from June 1850, was undertaken in monthly parts costing one shilling.
Each part contained 24 pages of letterpress and 4 hand-coloured plates.
The final six volume work contained 358 coloured plates. One thousand copies of the first part
were initially produced, but such was the demand that Fawcett quickly had to move into larger premises.

Alexander Francis Lydon was one of Fawcett’s principal engravers, contributing much in technique and design.
A team of women colourists under very strict scrutiny first from Fawcett then his wife
(a former colourist herself) hand colored each plate.

Morris became an early advocate for conservation and was instrumental in founding
the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Various editions of A History of British Birds were published from circa 1851 to circa 1903.
All were published with the hand-colouring of the time.

[References include Fine Bird Books, p125 & Benjamin Fawcett, p 77.]