Red-throated Grossbeak (Grosbeak)

This is a truly special combined watercolor and engraved plate presentation from Naturalist’s Miscellany. The work was done by George Shaw & Frederick Nodder and published in London from 1789 to 1813. This plate / watercolor were completed prior to 1859 based on the prior owner’s hand written labels dating June 1859 to endpapers. The engravings are on the Whatman watermarked paper often with contemporary caption in pencil or ink with added watercolor backgrounds or colorations and hand-drawn or washed borders.

The Naturalist’s Miscellany was a monumental 24-volume work, known for its wide range of birds, reptiles, insects, quadrupeds, sea life, and botanicals. The prints are highly sought after by collectors for their extremely decorative and whimsical nature. George Shaw authored the work, providing details for the over 1000 species described therein. Fredrick Nodder was the engraver for most of the work. After his death in 1800, however, his son took over the position.

George Shaw was a doctor, Fellow of the Royal Society, co-founder of the Linnean Society, and a zoologist of the British Museum. He was also the first to publish a scientific description of the platypus which was done in his noted work with Frederick Nodder, the Naturalist’s Miscellany.