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.

NIGHT HERON

$45

Some foxing

NIGHTINGALE

$55

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

NIGHTINGALE

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some foxing.

NIGHTJAR

$45

NODDY [TERN]

$45

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

NODDY [TERN]

$45

Later edition print...see print to left and below for any subtle colouring differences between editions.

NODDY [TERN]

$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.

NUMIDIAN CRANE

$55

NUTCRACKER

$50

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

NUTCRACKER

$50

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some foxing/smudging in outer margins.

ORANGE-LEGGED HOBBY

$55

A couple of light fox marks in upper margin

ORPHEAN WARBLER

$50

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Light age toning, narrow bottom margin below title.

ORPHEAN WARBLER

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some foxing/smudging in outer margins.

ORTOLAN

$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 below title.

ORTOLAN

$50

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

OUZEL

$35

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...some splotchiness to background, smudge above bird's head, scattered specks

OYSTER-CATCHER

$50

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

OYSTER-CATCHER

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some foxing in outer margins.

PARROT CROSSBILL

$50

Light scattered foxing

PECTORAL SANDPIPER

$50

PEEP

$50

A couple of tiny fox marks

PEEP

$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.

PIED FLYCATCHER

$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 smudges and fox marks.

PIED FLYCATCHER

$40

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some light foxing.

PIED WAGTAIL

$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 tiny specks.

PIED WAGTAIL

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some very light foxing.

PINE GROSSBEAK

$50

Some very light foxing and faint text offset.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE

$60

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 tiny specks, narrow margin below title.

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE

$55

Later edition print...see print to left for any subtle colouring differences between editions. Some very light foxing.

POCHARD

$50

POLISH SWAN

$50

Foxing around edges and in margins

POMERINE SKUA

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see printst to right and below for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Age toned paper, narrow bottom margin, a few fox marks..

POMERINE SKUA

$45

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

POMERINE SKUA

$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. No margin below title, as issued.

PRATINCOLE

$45

First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see printst to right and below for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Age toned paper, a few fox marks.

PRATINCOLE

$45

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

PTARMIGAN

$50

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

PTARMIGAN

$45

Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Some fox marks.

PURPLE MARTIN

$50

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

PURPLE MARTIN

$50

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

PURPLE SANDPIPER

$50

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

PURPLE SANDPIPER

$45

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

PURPLE 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 and 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.]

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.]