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.

GANNET

$45

GARDEN WARBLER

$45

A few small fox marks

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER

$45

A few small fox marks

GLAUCOUS GULL

$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 and lightly age-toned paper.

GLAUCOUS GULL

$45

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

GOLDCREST

$45

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

GOLD-VENTED 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. Lightly age-toned paper.

GOLD-VENTED THRUSH

$45

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

GOSHAWK

$60

GREAT AUK

$50

Foxed

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL

$45

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL

$35

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

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL

$45

GREAT BUSTARD

$40

Fox mark above title

GREAT BUSTARD

$35

(Note colouring differences from print to left)

GREAT PLOVER

$45

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

GREAT PLOVER

$40

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

GREAT SEDGE WARBLER

$45

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

GREAT SEDGE WARBLER

$40

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

GREAT SHRIKE

$50

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

GREAT SNIPE

$45

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet....see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Lightly age-toned paper; fox mark in left margin.

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Light fox marks and smudges.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

$50

GREAT TIT

$50

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

GREAT TIT

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Light fox marks around edges.

GREAT TITMOUSE

$45

Later edition print, with name change from Great Tit...see prints above right for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Light browning around edges.

GREEN CORMORANT

$50

Later "Cabinet Edition" print, on smaller sheet (approx. 7¼ x 4¾ inches), and with an uncoloured "habitat."

GREENFINCH

$45

foxing in top margin

GREEN SANDPIPER

$45

GREEN SANDPIPER

$40

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

GREENSHANK

$45

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

GREENSHANK

$45

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

GREEN WOODPECKER

$60

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL

$50

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

GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL

$50

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

GREY-LAG GOOSE

$50

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

GREY-LAG GOOSE

$45

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

GREY PHALAROPE

$45

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

GREY PHALAROPE

$40

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences from the first edition. This plate appears to have been re-engraved, as there are very subtle differences from the first edtion print to the left.

GREY PHALAROPE

$35

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

GREY PLOVER

$40

GREY WAGTAIL

$45

Note colour differences between this print and the one to the right

GREY WAGTAIL

$40

Note colour differences between this print and the one to the left

GRIFFON VULTURE

$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 foxing.

GRIFFON VULTURE

$45

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

GULL-BILLED TERN

$45

GULL-BILLED TERN

$40

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

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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.]