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History of British Birds


History and Description of Land Birds [vol. 1 of British Birds]
History and Description of Water Birds [vol. 2 of British Birds]
Author: Thomas Bewick (English, 1753–1828)
Illustrated by: Thomas Bewick (English, 1753–1828)
Printer: Solomon Hodgson (English, 18th century)
Printer: Edward Walker (English, died in 1831)
Publisher: Ralph Beilby (English, 1743 or 1744–1817)
Publisher: Thomas Bewick (English, 1753–1828)
1798–1804
Place of Publication: Newcastle, England

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with 453 wood engravings
Dimensions Overall (each vol.): 23 x 14.4 x 3.7 cm (9 1/16 x 5 11/16 x 1 7/16 in.)
Credit Line William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.1960a-b
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Newcastle: Sol. Hodgson, for Beilby & Bewick / Edward Walker, for T. Bewick, 1797 [i.e., 1798]-1804

Catalogue Raisonné Ray 51; Hugo, Bewick Collector, 99; Roscoe, TB Bibliography, 15b, 17c
Description(Newcastle: Sol. Hodgson, for Beilby & Bewick / Edward Walker, for T. Bewick, 1797 [i.e., 1798]-1804) Octavo, two vols.; [v. 1] 183 leaves, [v. 2] 210 leaves; modern half gilt-stamped red morocco, red marbled paper boards (Mudie).

Illustrations of birds; tailpiece vignettes of landscape and genre scenes. Second edition [dated 1798 by Roscoe] of vol. 1 (Land Birds), "super royal" copy (see Roscoe, p. 52 and 59); first edition of vol. 2 (Water Birds), "thin royal" copy (see Roscoe, p. 65). Among variants, the vignette on p. 136, vol. 2 is in the first state (Roscoe, p. 69); that on p. 269 also in the first (R, p. 70).
ProvenanceAcquired in 1903 by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.