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.

TAWNY PIPIT

$40

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.

TAWNY PIPIT

$40

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Some foxing in margins.

TEMMINCK'S STINT

$45

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

THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

$50

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

THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

$50

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Some foxing in margins.

THRUSH

$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 staining/smudges in extreme outer margins.

THRUSH

$45

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

THRUSH NIGHTINGALE

$50

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

THRUSH NIGHTINGALE

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks; foxing in outer margins.

TREE 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 few very faint fox marks.

TREE PIPIT

$35

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks.

TURNSTONE

$40

A few tiny specks and slight corner wear.

TWITE

$40

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

TWITE

$40

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks.

TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL

$30

Significant foxing.

VELVET SCOTER

$50

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

VELVET SCOTER

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks; foxing in outer margins.

VIRGINIAN PARTRIDGE

WALL CREEPER

$45

WATER PIPIT

$40

WATER RAIL

$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 few tiny specks.

WATER RAIL

$40

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

WATER RAIL

$40

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.

WHEATEAR

$45

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

WHEATEAR

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A small watercolour paint drop (?) above and to right of title.

WHIMBREL

$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 few light fox marks.

WHIMBREL

$45

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

WHINCHAT

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet.
Minor overall age toning.

WHISKERED TERN

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see prints to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Narrow margin below title, as issued.

WHISKERED TERN

$45

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

WHISKERED TERN

$40

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.

WHITE'S THRUSH

$45

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

WHITE'S THRUSH

$45

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

WHITE STORK

$60

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

WHITE STORK

$50

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

WHITE WAGTAIL

$45

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

WHITE WAGTAIL

$45

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

WHITETHROAT

$45

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

WHITETHROAT

$45

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

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN

$45

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

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN

$45

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

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN

$40

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.

WILLOW WARBLER

$45

WILSON'S PETREL

$45

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

WILSON'S PETREL

$40

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.

WOODCHAT

$50

First edition print with very light buff background.

WOOD LARK

$45

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

WOOD LARK

$45

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

WOOD SANDPIPER

$50

WOOD WARBLER

$50

First edition print with very light buff, slightly motteled background.

WREN

$30

Foxed plate.

WRYNECK

$35

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

WRYNECK

$45

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

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO

$40

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Minor overall age toning; foxing in extreme upper right corner.

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO

$40

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

YELLOW- HAMMER

$50

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

YELLOW-HAMMER

$45

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

YELLOW-SHANKS

$45

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

YELLOW-SHANKS

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
(some foxing)

YELLOW WAGTAIL

$50

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See also F.O. Morris' A Natural History of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds

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.]