Birds
€ 390
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
General age-related toning. Minor wear and soiling, blank verso. Please study image carefully.
Original antique bird print of two grebe, or dabchick member of the grebe family of water birds. Published by George Edwards circa 1750.
George Edwards FRS (3 April 1694 – 23 July 1773) was an English naturalist and ornithologist, known as the "father of British ornithology". Edwards began studying natural history, especially birds, after an unsuccessful career as a businessman, ‘applying himself to drawing and colouring such animals as fell under his notice’, including foreign specimens brought into the Port of London by ship. Edwards’ chief aim was to ‘achieve a natural and accurate portrayal’, though often from stuffed specimens; with no clear idea of suitable backgrounds he would perch smaller birds on a lichen-covered branch, or give them a general backdrop of water (for the water birds) or vegetation.
