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.

HAIRY WOODPECKER

$55

HAWFINCH

$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 bottom margin and lightly age-toned paper.

HAWFINCH

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences from the first edition. Very light foxing, mostly around edges.

HAWK OWL

$55

HEN HARRIER

$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 bottom margin and very light foxing.

HEN HARRIER

$50

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

HOBBY

$55

HONEY BUZZARD [HAWK]

$60

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

HONEY BUZZARD [HAWK]

$55

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

HOODED CROW

$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 and very faint text offsetting.

HOODED CROW

$50

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

HOOPOE

$50

Tear in right margin

IBIS

$50

A couple of light fox marks

ICELAND GULL

$45

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR

$45

IVORY GULL

$40

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.

IVORY GULL

$45

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

IVORY 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. Narrow margin below title.

JACK SNIPE

$45

JACKDAW

$40

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.

JACKDAW

$45

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

JAY

$40

JAY

$45

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

JER-FALCON

$55

KENTISH DOTTEREL

$45

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

KENTISH DOTTEREL

$45

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

KESTREL

Some foxing

KING DUCK

$45

Original watercolour smear above back

KITTIWAKE [GULL]

$50

KNOT

$40

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for colouring differences between editions. Softly age-toned paper and some foxing mainly in margins.

KNOT

$45

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

KNOT

$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.

previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | next

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.]