Greater American Godwit

Artist or Author: George Edwards

Work: A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and of some other Rare and Undescribed Animals or Gleanings of Natural History

Date of Publication: 1745-1806

Style: Originally Hand-colored Engraving

Paper Size: ~ 9 1/4" by 11 3/4"

Condition: The work is in good to very good condition overall. There may be some very light toning, offset, or light fox marks to engravings from this the work. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work:

This originally hand-colored engraving is from George Edwards's A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and of some other Rare and Undescribed Animals and Gleanings of Natural History. The work was published in London for the Author between 1745 and 1806.

This was one of the most important natural history works. Many of the birds in the work had not been previously illustrated, with quite a few being foreign species drawn from captivity in London. Linnaeus gave around 350 birds their scientific names based on Edwards's descriptions.

George Edwards (1694-1773) was an English draughtsman and proficient ornithologist. He worked as the Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians which eventually allowed him to pursue publishing his bird studies and drawings. Edward really drove the prominence of bird and animal illustration in his time and thus became known as 'The Father of British Ornithology.'