Antique bird prints by F.O. Morris "A History of British Birds" 1851-1903 hand-colored engravings

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

BLACKCAP

$40

a couple of very light fox marks

BLACK-HEADED BUNTING

$40

light foxing and light text offset

BLACK-HEADED GULL

$35

(on smaller sheet (approx. 7¼ x 4¾ inches) and with an uncoloured "habitat." See print below for a larger sheet and coloured habitat.)

BLACK-HEADED GULL

$40

BLACKSTART

$40

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

$40

BLACK-THROATED DIVER [LOON]

$45

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH

$40

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH

$40

BLUEBREAST

$45

First edition print with light buff background; slightly smaller sheet with light age toning

BLUEBREAST

$45

Later edition print (see print to left) with different composition and colouring

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER

$40

BROWN SNIPE

$45

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

BROWN SNIPE

$40

Later edition print ...see print to left for colouring differences from the first edition

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT

$45

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

BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT

$40

Later edition print...see print above for colouring differences from first edition.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER

$40

Some light specks above upper wing and a fox mark at upper paper's edge

BUFFON'S SKUA

$35

(on smaller sheet (approx. 7¼ x 4¾ inches) and with an uncoloured "habitat." See print to right for a larger sheet and coloured habitat.)

BUFFON'S SKUA

$40

First edition print with light buff background and lightly age toned paper; a couple of specks above tail feathers

BULLFINCH

$45

First edition print with very light buff background and slightly smaller sheet. Fox mark between title and print area and a few unobtrusive specks above head.

BULWER'S PETREL

$25

(on smaller sheet (approx. 7¼ x 4¾ inches) and with an uncolored "habitat." See prints to right for a larger sheets and coloured habitats.)

BULWER'S PETREL

$30

First edition print with light buff background, slightly age toned paper. Note subtle colouring differences in later edition print to right

BULWER'S PETREL

$35

Later edition print. Note subtle colouring differences in later edition print to left.

BUNTING

$40

First edition print with very light buff background. Later edition print without background is to the right.

BUNTING

$40

Later edition, subtle color differences from 1st edition print to left.

BUONAPARTE'S GULL

BUZZARD [HAWK]

$45

First edition print with very light buff background. Later edition print without background is to the right. A few light fox marks

BUZZARD [HAWK]

$40

Later edition without buff background and subtle colouring difference from first edition print to the left.

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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.]