Bewick (Thomas). British Land Birds/Water Birds/Quadrupeds, 1824-25

Bewick (Thomas). British Land Birds/British Water Birds/The Figures of Bewick's Quadrupeds, 3 volumes, Newcastle: printed by Edward Walker, 1824-25, British Land Birds with title vignette, 156 wood-engraved leaves only (of 157), each numbered in manuscript top right (134 numbered twice) and mostly named in English and Latin at lower margins in a neat contemporary hand, 6 wood-engravings with contemporary hand-colouring, a couple with additional information, i.e. wood-engraving numbered 148, Corncrake, 'Cold. from a fine specimen killed by W. Jordan Esq., wt. 8 oz. Tabley 2nd Sept. 1825', plate numbered 142 with some light offsetting, blank interleaves; British Water Birds with title vignette, 146 wood-engraved leaves only (of 157), most named in contemporary manuscript at lower margins, including 9 hand-coloured, blank interleaves; The Figures of Bewick's Quadrupeds, 2nd edition, 1824 with title vignette, 227 figures on 224 wood-engraved leaves (complete), blank interleaves, each volume without the text leaves as issued, occasional light spotting overall, some light offsetting to interleaves, bookplates of S.E. Widdrington, hinges reinforced, uniformly bound in contemporary green straight-grained morocco gilt, skillfully rebacked with original spines relaid, spines slightly faded, 4to

(Qty: 3)

Roscoe 43, 44 & 12; Tattersfield TB1.11 & TB1.27. Each volume a limited edition of 100 copies. A handsome set. Roscoe quotes a letter from Bewick to J.F.M. Dovaston, dated 26 November 1825, in which he states 'I, last summer printed 100 Sets 4to of Birds & Quadrupeds, without Type for the sole use of Artists (& when interleaved) of Naturalists...'.

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