Illustrations of Birds Drawn for John Gould by Edward Lear. Collected and Introduced by David Attenborough. London: Folio Society, 2012, t.e.g., large folio.
A FINE COPY OF PERHAPS THE MOST DESIRABLE FOLIO SOCIETY BOOK; THE MAGNIFICENT ILLUSTRATIONS OF BIRDS, SIGNED BY DAVID ATTENBOROUGH.
-------------------
"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 lithography 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 this Folio Society limited edition limited to 780 numbered copies, we find 80 hand-coloured lithographs with the wonderful introduction by David Attenborough as well as his signature to the limitation page. The binding is particularly excellent being bound in full morocco with fine gilt tooling to spine and both boards with notably fine hand-marbled endpapers, housed in a wonderful solander case. Easily one of the best obtainable copies of what is now a very rare book to the market and very difficult to obtain for less than £4,000-£4,500.
-------------------
Slipcase size: 415 x 595 mm (approx.)
Book size: 390 x 564 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Overall in very fine condition. One of the greatest obtainable examples of this incredibly attractive very large book. Spine and boards without fault. Joints and hinges in fine condition, uncracked, with boards securely attached, binding secure, without shelf lean. Internally in fine condition, without internal fault, collated as complete. Also complete with the associated ephemera, including the large original foldout, leather care instructions, and unframed large owl print in the original paper pouch.
