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A History of British Birds

by Rev. Francis Orpen Morris

(1851-1903, London)


Original Hand-coloured Wood Engravings over 120 years old


Sheet size: approximately 6.5 x 10 inches (varies slightly by year) – about 16.5 x 25.5 cm


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.]

 


THE AVAILABLE PLATES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW OF THE ENTIRE PLATE.
TAWNY PIPIT
TAWNY PIPIT
$69.95
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 fox marks.
TAWNY PIPIT
TAWNY PIPIT
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Some foxing in margins.
TEMMINCK'S STINT
TEMMINCK'S STINT
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Overall age toning.
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. Some foxing in margins.
THRUSH
THRUSH
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Some staining/smudges in extreme outer margins.
THRUSH
THRUSH
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
THRUSH NIGHTINGALE
THRUSH NIGHTINGALE
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Narrowish margin below title.
THRUSH NIGHTINGALE
THRUSH NIGHTINGALE
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks; foxing in outer margins.
TREE PIPIT
TREE PIPIT
$69.95
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 very faint fox marks.
TREE PIPIT
TREE PIPIT
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks.
TURNSTONE
TURNSTONE
$69.95
A few tiny specks and slight corner wear.
TWITE
TWITE
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Some spotting.
TWITE
TWITE
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks.
TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL
TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL
$69.95
Significant foxing.
VELVET SCOTER
VELVET SCOTER
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Narrowish margin below title.
VELVET SCOTER
VELVET SCOTER
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks; foxing in outer margins.
VIRGINIAN PARTRIDGE
VIRGINIAN PARTRIDGE
WALL CREEPER
WALL CREEPER
$69.95
WATER PIPIT
WATER PIPIT
$69.95
WATER RAIL
WATER RAIL
$69.95
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 specks.
WATER RAIL
WATER RAIL
$69.95
Later edition print...see prints to left and right for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks.
WATER RAIL
WATER RAIL
$69.95
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.
WHEATEAR
WHEATEAR
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Minor overall age toning.
WHEATEAR
WHEATEAR
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions. A small watercolour paint drop (?) above and to right of title.
WHIMBREL
WHIMBREL
$69.95
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 light fox marks.
WHIMBREL
WHIMBREL
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
WHINCHAT
WHINCHAT
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet.
Minor overall age toning.
WHISKERED TERN
WHISKERED TERN
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see prints to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Narrow margin below title, as issued.
WHISKERED TERN
WHISKERED TERN
$69.95
Later edition print...see prints to left and right for any colouring differences between editions. A few tiny specks.
WHISKERED TERN
WHISKERED TERN
$69.95
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.
WHITE'S THRUSH
WHITE'S THRUSH
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
WHITE'S THRUSH
WHITE'S THRUSH
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
WHITE STORK
WHITE STORK
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
WHITE STORK
WHITE STORK
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
WHITE WAGTAIL
WHITE WAGTAIL
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
WHITE WAGTAIL
WHITE WAGTAIL
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
WHITETHROAT
WHITETHROAT
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Minor overall age toning.
WHITETHROAT
WHITETHROAT
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see prints to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
$69.95
Later edition print...see prints to left and right for any colouring differences between editions.
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
$69.95
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.
WILLOW WARBLER
WILLOW WARBLER
$69.95
WILSON'S PETREL
WILSON'S PETREL
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to right for any colouring differences between editions.
WILSON'S PETREL
WILSON'S PETREL
$69.95
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.
WOODCHAT
WOODCHAT
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background.
WOOD LARK
WOOD LARK
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
WOOD LARK
WOOD LARK
$69.95
Later edition print...see prints to left and right for any colouring differences between editions.
WOOD SANDPIPER
WOOD SANDPIPER
$69.95
WOOD WARBLER
WOOD WARBLER
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff, slightly motteled background.
WREN
WREN
$69.95
Foxed plate.
WRYNECK
WRYNECK
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Minor overall age toning and foxing.
WRYNECK
WRYNECK
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions. Minor overall age toning; foxing in extreme upper right corner.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
YELLOW HAMMER
YELLOW- HAMMER
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
YELLOW-HAMMER
YELLOW-HAMMER
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
YELLOW-SHANKS
YELLOW-SHANKS
$69.95
First edition print with very light buff background; slightly smaller sheet...see print to right for subtle colouring differences in the later editions.
YELLOW-SHANKS
YELLOW-SHANKS
$69.95
Later edition print...see print to left for any colouring differences between editions.
(some foxing)
YELLOW WAGTAIL
YELLOW WAGTAIL
$69.95