Smith's British Ornithology - 3 Volumes with 177 Originally Hand-colored Engravings

Artist or Author: John Hunt

Work: British Ornithology; Containing Portraits of all the British Birds, including those of Foreign Origin, which have become domesticated

Date of Publication: 1815-1822

Style: 3 Volumes with 177 Originally Hand-colored Engravings

Paper Size: ~ 5 3/8" by 8 3/8"

Condition: The work is in overall very good to excellent condition overall. There is some marginalia to the plates. There may be some light toning, occasional foxing or offset present. 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 fascinating and rare three volume work is John Hunt's British Ornithology; Containing Portraits of all the British Birds, including those of Foreign Origin, which have become domesticated. The work was published between 1815 and 1822 in Norwich by Bacon and Co.

This work was one of the first attempts to completely illustrate all bird species of the British Isles. It is extraordinarily rare to find a complete first edition as it was issued by subscription and never fully completed leaving any surviving issues unique in total text and hand-colored engraving counts. The project also ended entirely before completion, leaving the final text page to volume 3 mid sentence (picture provided in listing).

The volumes are bound in black leather with gold gilt lettering and bands. There are 177 originally hand-colored engravings + 4 black and white anatomical engravings (break down of contents by volume below). This set is often considered complete as issued with 130-144 plates, with the maximum number counted at 192 engravings with 8 black and white.

Volume 1: pp. 1-181 text, 33 hand-colored engravings, no facsimiles, 37 blank pages. Original title page, appendix in 4 facsimile pages. Loosely included photocopied correspondence from 1872, 1889, and 1891; research notes from 1996.

Volume 2: pp. 1-312, 360-365; Original title page, 50 hand-colored engravings, Uncolored engraving of Anas strepera, 4 black and white anatomical engravings, 5 facsimiles (Certhia familiarus, Anas tadorna, Anas strepera, Anas spectabilis, and Mergus serrator (loose), 40 blank pages; Loosely included is a hand written note, news clipping on Hunt, typed and signed letter from 1989 from David Wilson to Professor Hale

Volume 3: pp. 114-138; 94 hand-colored engravings, Uncolored engraving of Larus fuscus, title page in facsimile, 3 facsimiles of Alca impennis, Columbus grille, and Larus niaibundus, 48 blank pages

John Hunt (1777-1842) was a British self-taught naturalist, taxidermist, and engraver. He drew, engraved, and hand-colored (or personally supervised) all of the images for the work according to the Linnaeus system. He retained almost all creative control of the publication.

The work was dedicated by permission to Sir James Edward Smith, M. D. F.R.S. and first President of the Linnean Society. Smith (1759-1828) was one of the most important British natural history figures of the Regency era. Smith purchased the entire collection of Carl Linnaeus including his library, manuscripts, and biological specimens in 1784 serving to help co-found the Linnean Society in 1788. Hunt acquiring Smith's permission of dedication was an important stamp of scientific credibility for his self produced work.

Provenance: Bookplate of Thomas Henry Steel; Owned by Professor William Gardner Hale, top British authority on wading birds; Ownership inscription of J. W. Millard; Ownership inscription of T. E. Gunn 1877 & J. Ement (sp?) Gunn 1923; Ownership inscription of To James Fisher from J. A. Freelt (sp?) 1953