History Of British Birds. - The Figures Engraved On Wood By T. Bewick. - Vol. I. Containing The History And Description Of Land Birds. (Vol. II. Containing The History And Description Of Water Birds.) -
RA Collection: Book
Record number
06/1308
Imprint
Newcastle:: Printed By Sol. Hodgson, For Beilby & T. Bewick: Sold By Them, And By G. G. & J. Robinson, London. [Price 10s. 6d. in Boards.], 1797. (-1804.)
Vol. I: [Half-t., t.p.] - Preface - Introduction - Contents Of The First Volume - [Text with illus.] - [Publishers' advertisement]. (Note: in many copies (incl. that of the Royal Academy) the half-title has been transposed to follow p. xxx.) - Vol. II: [T.p.] - Advertisement (by Thomas Bewick) - Introduction To The History Of British Water Birds - Contents Of The Second Volume - [Text with illus.].
Responsibility Note
The illustrations are unsigned.
References
ESTC, N33395
J. Uglow, Nature's engraver: a life of Thomas Bewick (2006). A memoir of Thomas Bewick written by himself, ed. I. Bain (rev. 1979).
S. Roscoe, Thomas Bewick: a bibliography raisonnée (1953/R1973).
Summary Note
The publication-date of Volume II was 1804. Its imprint reads, 'Newcastle: Printed By Edward Walker, For T. Bewick: Sold By Him, And Longman And Rees, London. [Price 18s. in Boards.] - 1804.'
According to ESTC variant title pages of Volume I give different prices in the imprint: some, '10s. 6d' [as in Royal Academy's copy]; others, '11.1s'; or '13s.'; or '18s.' [all these advertise the 3rd ed. of the General History of Quadrupeds on the final page]; or 'one guinea' [this advertises the 4th edition of Quadrupeds on the final page]. ESTC adds that a new setting of the text was issued later in 1797 [i.e. 1798?]; with the price variations, '10s.6d.' or '13s' or '15s' [all adevrtising the 4th ed. of Quadrupeds on the final page].
The half-title of Volume I reads, 'History Of British Birds. - Vol. I.'
As well as Bewick's illustrations of the birds the book contains many decorative tail-pieces by him.
The last page of Volume I carries an advertisement, 'Lately was published, Price 9s. in Boards, The Third Edition Of A General History Of Quadrupeds. The Figures Engraved On Wood By T. Bewick. Newcastle Upon Tyne ...'.
Provenance
The front and back pastedowns of Volume II carry the 19th-century bookplate of R.L. Watson.
Binding Note
19th-century half green morocco, green cloth-covered boards, rebacked in 1990 retaining earlier spine-piece; brown morocco spine-labels lettered 'Bewick 2 (3)' and 'Birds Vol. I (II)', spines lettered 'R.A.' and '1790 (1804)'.
Subject
Birds - Animals - Great Britain - History
Reference books - Great Britain - 18th century - 19th century
Pictorial works - Wood engravings - Great Britain - 18th century - 19th century