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Illustrated Book of Poultry
by Lewis Wright
Published in 1880 by Cassell's, London

Original Chromolithographs (exceptions noted below) from Illustrations by J.W. Ludlow
Sheet size: approximately 8 x 10½ inches (exceptions noted below)

Please click on the thumbnail images provided to see an enlarged view of the entire plate


The ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF POULTRY is often featured as a rare collectable in articles on antiquarian books. One of the lithographs was featured on the cover of a Cornell University magazine (August 1999). The article describes the books in the Universities Rare Book Collection.
(See scan of cover above).

Comprehensive series of 50 prints of prize British roosters and hens, and other fowl from what is perhaps the most famous 19th-century illustrated book on the subject, with fine chromolithographs after illustrations by J. W. Ludlow. Each bird is sensitively portrayed in a natural farm or henhouse setting, imbued with its own personality and temperament that seems to correspond to its appearance. Some prints show a single bird, others show two, either the more showy males, or a pair of male and female. The titles of the prints specify name of breed and prizes. Some also specify owner or name of the bird. For example, Mr. R.B. Wood's pair of Creve-Coeurs won "1st prizes at Wolverhampton Birmingham (Summer Show) Spalding & Chesterfield, 1872," and Mr. Tomlinson's Buff Cochcin Cock 'Sampson' was "winner of the Birmingham Cup in 1860 and 1861." The book was reprinted several times between 1880 and 1911. The Illustrated Book of Poultry was part of the natural history series published by Cassell and Company in England in the latter half of the 1800s.

J.W. Ludlow was an ornithological artist who apparently specialized in domestic birds. He illustrated several books published by Cassell and others between 1867 and 1886 on poultry and pigeons. His poultry illustrations are considered classics and are widely reproduced in posters today.

Lewis Wright was a Victorian-era author, editor and poultry, pigeon and animal expert. He played a major part in documenting old and rare breeds of poultry and recording their histories. Wright was the subject of the 2001 book Lewis Wright and His Poultry by Joseph Batty (London: Northbrook Publishing).


White-Crested Black Polish
White-Crested Black Polish


Silver Spangled Polish
Silver Spangled Polish


Creve Coeurs
Creve Coeurs

 


Malays
Malays
$90


Wheaten Game Hen
Wheaten Game Hen
$75


Game Bantams
Game Bantams
$75

 


Exhibition Game
Exhibition Game


Wild American Turkey Cock
Wild American Turkey Cock


Black Ducks
Black Ducks
$90

 


The Earl
The Earl
(Black-breasted Game Cock)


Black Red & Pile Game Bantams
Black Red & Pile Game Bantams
$45

some foxing, see enlargment

 

 

The New Book of Poultry
by Lewis Wright
Published in 1902 by Cassell's, London

Original Offset Lithographs from Illustrations by J.W. Ludlow
Sheet size: approximately 7.75 x 10.5 inches

Please click on the thumbnail images provided to see an enlarged view of the entire plate

 


Gold Spangled Hamburghs (not Wright/Cassell)
Gold Spangled Hamburghs

$65


Indian Game Cocks
Indian Game

$45


Partridge Cochins
Partridge Cochins

$65

 


Golden Wyandottes
Golden Wyandottes


Faverolles
Faverolles

$60


Gold Pencilled Hamburghs
Gold Pencilled Hamburghs

$50

 


Light Brahmas
Light Brahmas

$60


Dark Brahmas
Dark Brahmas


Houdans
Houdans

$60

 


Gold Spangled Polish
Gold Spangled Polish

$60


Old English Game: Spangled
Old English Game: Spangled

$50


Old English Game: Black-Red Cock and Clay Hen
Old English Game: Black-Red Cock and Clay Hen

$50

 


Brown Red Game
Brown Red Game

$45


Malay
Malays

$50


Duckwing Game
Duckwing Game

$45

 
       
The beautiful chromolithographs below are very similar to the Wright/Cassell prints above.
They come from an unidentified German volume, lithographed by J.F. Richter in Hamburg, Germany around the year 1860.
The size is the about the same as the Cassell publication: 7 3/4 x 11 inches. Some foxing in margins present.
 


Chamois-Paduaner
Chamois-Paduaner
(J.F. Richter of Hamburg, lith.)


Goldhalsiger Phoenixhahn
Goldhalsiger Phoenixhahn
(J.F. Richter of Hamburg, lith.)
$60


Schwarze Siebenburger Nacthalse mit Rosenkamm
Schwarze Siebenburger Nacthalse mit Rosenkamm
(J.F. Richter of Hamburg, lith.)
$45

 
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