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A Natural History of the Nests and Eggs of British Birds
by Rev. Francis Orpen Morris
Published in 1896 by John C. Nimmo, London

Original antique color wood engravings over 120 years old
"Chiefly coloured by hand" • Titles in English
Sheet size: approximately 6.5 x 10 inches.

Rev Morris
Rev. Francis Orpen Morris
(1810-1893)
The inspiration for Francis Orpen Morris' A History of British Birds actually came from the renowned English printer, Benjamion 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 had appeared as early as 1834, a guide to an arrangement of British birds. 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 coloured each plate.

Morris became an early advocate for conservation and was instrumental in founding the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

References include Fine Bird Books, p125 & Benjamin Fawcett, p 77.

Various Editions a History of British Birds were published from circa 1851 to circa 1903.
All were published with the hand-colouring of the time.

 

Please click on the thumbnail images for an enlarged view. Due to their age, the printing process and type of paper used, there may be some foxing or white spots inherent in the lithography of the tinted background. Please have a look at the enlargements for best look at each print's condition.
(The Darvill's digital watermark is to deter image theft and does not appear on the antique print. )
Egyptian Vulture
PLATE II
Egyptian Vulture
$39.95
Erne
PLATE III
Erne

Osprey
PLATE VI
Osprey
Honey Buzzard
PLATE IX
Honey Buzzard
[Hawk]
$39.95
Jer-Falcon
PLATE XII
Jer-Falcon
$39.95
Peregrine
PLATE XIII
Peregrine

Hobby
PLATE XIV
Hobby
$39.95
Orange-legged Hobby
PLATE XV
Orange-legged Hobby
$39.95
Merlin
PLATE XVI
Merlin
$39.95
Lesser Kestrel
PLATE XVII*
Lesser Kestrel
$39.95
Goshawk
PLATE XVIII
Goshawk
$39.95
Hen Harrier Montagu's Harrier
PLATE XXI
Hen Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
$39.95
Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl
PLATE XXII
Short-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
$39.95
Eagle Owl, Scops-eared Owl
PLATE XXIII
Eagle Owl
Scops-eared Owl
$39.95
White Owl, Mottled Owl, Little Owl
PLATE XXV
White Owl
Mottled Owl
Little Owl
$39.95
Tengmalm's Owl, Hawk Owl
PLATE XXVI
Tengmalm's Owl
Hawk Owl
$39.95
(note color difference in background on right side.)
Woodchat
PLATE XXIX
Woodchat
$39.95
Cole Titmouse
PLATE XXXI
Cole Titmouse
$39.95
Crested Titmouse
PLATE XXXII
Crested Titmouse
$39.95
Roller, Kingfisher
PLATE XXIX
Roller
Kingfisher
$39.95
Nutcracker
PLATE XLIX
Nutcracker
 
Wryneck, Creeper, Wall Creeper
PLATE LII
Wryneck
Creeper
Wall Creeper
$39.95
Black Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker
PLATE LIII
Black Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
$39.95
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
PLATE LVI
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Swift
PLATE LIX
Swift
Alpine Swift
PLATE LX
Alpine Swift
$39.95
Swallow
PLATE LXI
Swallow

We also have many of Rev. F.O. Morris' birds.

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