Morris 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.

DABCHICK

$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 light foxing in lower portion of image.

DABCHICK

$40

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

DARTFORD WARBLER

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet; lighlty age-toned paper.

DESERT WHEATEAR

$45

DIPPER

$45

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

DIPPER

$45

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

DIPPER

$35

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

DOTTEREL

$40

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

DOTTEREL

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Some foxing in outer margins.

DUNLIN

$45

DUNNOCK

$45

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

DUNNOCK

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Some foxing in outer margins.

DUSKY 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.

DUSKY GREBE

$40

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

DUSKY PETREL

$40

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

DUSKY PETREL

$40

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

DUSKY 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.)

EGYPTIAN GOOSE

$45

EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR

$45

light smudge to right of beak

EGYPTIAN VULTURE

$45

ESQUIMAUX 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. Softly age-toned paper.

ESQUIMAUX CURLEW

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Fox mark below breast.

FIELDFARE

$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 fox marks.

FIELDFARE

$45

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

FIRECREST

$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 fox marks.

FIRECREST

$50

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

FLAMINGO

$60

FULMAR

$40

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

FULMAR

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. A few tiny fox marks.

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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.]