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.

LAND-RAIL

$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 light foxing.

LAND-RAIL

$45

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

LAND-RAIL

$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.

LAPLAND 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. Light smudge in left margin outside image area.

LAPLAND BUNTING

$45

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

LAUGHING GULL

$45

LEACH'S 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. Softly age-toned paper, very light text offsetting.

LEACH'S PETREL

$45

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

LEACH'S PETREL

$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. A couple of fox marks.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

$45

Later edition print...see print to right for colouring differences between editions. Some foxing on plate.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL

$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 and coloured habitat. Narrow bottom margin, as issued.

LESSER GOLDEN PLOVER

$40

LESSER GREY SHRIKE

$40

Some foxing

LESSER KESTREL

$50

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER

$45

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER

$50

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

LESSER 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. Softly age-toned paper.

LESSER TERN

$45

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

LESSER TERN

$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.

LESSER WHITETHROAT

$40

LESSER WHITETHROAT

$45

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

LINNET

$45

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

LINNET

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for colouring differences between editions. A couple of unobtrusive specks.

LITTLE BITTERN

$45

LITTLE BUSTARD

$45

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

LITTLE BUSTARD

$45

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

LITTLE EGRET

$60

Light foxing around edges, outside of image area.

LITTLE 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. Softly age-toned paper.

LITTLE GULL

$45

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

LITTLE 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.

LITTLE RINGED DOTTEREL

$45

LITTLE STINT

$35

Some foxing

LITTLE STINT

$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.

LONG-TAILED SKUA

$45

LONG-TAILED TIT

$40

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for name change and reversed direction in a later edition. Scattered foxing.

LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE

$40

Some foxing

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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.]