Illustrations of Birds Drawn for John Gould by Edward Lear (Lettered)

Illustrations of Birds Drawn for John Gould by Edward Lear (Lettered)

London: The Folio Society, [2012]. Limited Edition, Letter H out of a total limitation of 780 numbered and 20 lettered copies reserved for contributors to the project.

Notes

"A landmark in the history of ornithological publishing. Edward Lear had an eye for landscapes and an ear for rhyme, but it was neither as a travel painter, nor as a writer of comic verse that he first displayed his prolific talent. Between 1832 - when he was just 20 - and 1838, Lear created 80 bird portraits for the naturalist and entrepreneur John Gould. For many, they are the world's finest ornithological illustrations. The portraits were produced using the fledgling art of litography and coloured by hand. They featured in Gould's celebrated books, intermingled with the work of other, often less accomplished artists. David Attenborough first saw one of Lear's plates in the 1950s, and was so struck by its precision and grace that he determined to collect them all. When the collection was complete, he had them bound in an original 19th-century leather binding case."

In 2012, to celebrate the bicentenary of Lear's birth, Attenborough has kindly allowed The Folio Society to reproduce the entire volume in facsimile. Attenborough also wrote a superb introduction, especially for this limited edition, and signed each copy.

Description

Edition limited to 780 signed and numbered copies and 20 lettered copies; this being Letter H. Imperial folio format measures 21¼ x 14½. 184 pages. Printed on matt-coated wove paper. Set in Bodoni. 80 hand-coloured litographs and one additional drawing in high-quality reproduction. Introduction by David Attenborough. Limited edition certificate, printed letterpress, signed by David Attenborough. Bound in full goatskin leather with gold blocking on front, back, spine and inside edges. Shuffled pages, gilded top edge.
Hand-marbled 'Turkish Spot' endpapers. Presented in a buckram-bound solander box along with a beautiful print of the majestic Eagle Owl (unframed).

Provenance

This spectacular edition comes from the personal collection of the wonderfully-talented Mr John Riches who dressed leather for The Folio Society for almost 15 years and supplied the binders who they nominated.

Condition

The book is in pristine, immaculate condition, with clean, bright and tightly-bound pages.
The magnificent print of the Eagle Owl is present and contained in its original envelope.
The solander box does show a little shelf-wear and a couple of corner bumps, but is overall structurally-sound and very good indeed.

Please note some of the photos are of another edition we have for sale just for illustrative purposes. It's a large and heavy book, and so minimal handling is preferred.

All in all, a magnificent facsimile edition, often touted as Folio Society's finest, herewith part for many years of the collection of a single owner and major contributor to the project.

Below you can watch an interview of David Attenborough conducted by the then Folio Society Director Joe Whitlock Blundell, when Mr Attenborough first sees this beautiful facsimile.