Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots: The Greater Part of Them Species Hitherto Unfigured, Containing Forty-Two Lithographic Plates, Drawn from Life, and on Stone
- Leather Bound
- London: Pion Limited; Printed at the Curwen Press, 1978
London: Pion Limited; Printed at the Curwen Press, 1978. Limited edition facsimile reprint. Leather Bound. Near Fine/Very Good. Elephant folio [55 cm] 3/4 dark red leather with red cloth over boards, raised bands, and a gilt stamped title on the spine. Top edge gilt. In the publisher's plain white wrapper, which is mildly soiled and creased, and has one closed tear and one abraded surface tear. The book is near fine in a very good dust wrapper. With the 15 page essay by Brian Reade tucked in (with light soiling to the wraps). Reade's essay was first published in 1949 by Gerald Duckworth, under the title "Edward Lear's Parrots." This is a large volume that will require extra postage if shipping. A lavishly produced facsimile, illustrated in vibrant color, of Edward Lear's first work of ornithological illustrations. Number 211 in an edition limited to 530 copies, of which 500 numbered copies are for sale.
Edward Lear (1812-1888), primarily known as a writer of nonsense poetry, was almost entirely self-trained as a draughtsman, as a lithographer, and as a painter at an early age. From the start, Lear's ability to draw was closely linked to his strong love of birds and animals. He was already earning his living by drawing at the age of fifteen. In 1830, Lear began his association with the Zoological Society Gardens in London, where he created his hand-colored lithographs known as "Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots," published between 1830 and 1832. Lear is also well known for the drawings that he made of birds during his time working for the British Museum for the prominent ornithologist John Gould.
Edward Lear (1812-1888), primarily known as a writer of nonsense poetry, was almost entirely self-trained as a draughtsman, as a lithographer, and as a painter at an early age. From the start, Lear's ability to draw was closely linked to his strong love of birds and animals. He was already earning his living by drawing at the age of fifteen. In 1830, Lear began his association with the Zoological Society Gardens in London, where he created his hand-colored lithographs known as "Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots," published between 1830 and 1832. Lear is also well known for the drawings that he made of birds during his time working for the British Museum for the prominent ornithologist John Gould.