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.

CAPERCALLIE

$45

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

CAPERCALLIE

$40

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

CAPPED PETREL

$45

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

CAPPED PETREL

$40

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

CAPPED PETREL

$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.)

CASPIAN TERN

$45

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

CASPIAN TERN

$35

Later edition print ...see print to left for colouring differences from the first edition; foxing around perimeter

CASPIAN TERN

$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.)

CHAFFINCH

$45

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

CHAFFINCH

$40

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

CHIFF CHAFF

$40

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

CHIFF CHAFF

$35

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

CHOUGH

$45

CINEREOUS SHEARWATER

$45

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

CINEREOUS SHEARWATER

$40

Later edition print ...see print to left for any colouring differences from the first edition; a few light foxing specks

CINEREOUS SHEARWATER

$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.)

CIRL BUNTING

$45

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

CIRL BUNTING

$45

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

COLE TITMOUSE

$45

A few light fox marks below branch

COMMON TERN

$45

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

COMMON TERN

$45

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

COOT

$45

CORMORANT

$40

Later "Cabinet Edition " print, on smaller sheet (approx. 7¼ x 4¾ inches), and with an uncoloured "habitat." Red staining around edges of paper—would be covered with careful mounting/matting.

COURSER

$45

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

COURSER

$40

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

CREEPER

$50

CRESTED 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; a couple of light fox marks

CRESTED LARK

$45

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

CRESTED TIT

$50

CROSSBILL

$50

CROW

$55

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

CUCKOO

$45

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

CUCKOO

$45

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

CULL-BILLED TERN

$35

Some foxing

CURLEW

$45

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

CURLEW

$45

Later edition print ...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Some foxing on plate.

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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.]