Date of Printing: 1766 • Medium: Copperplate Engraving (hand colored) • Subject Category: Natural History - Birds • Signed: Plate signed, Lower Left • Period Created: Enlightenment (1700 - 1799) • Plate Size HxWxD cm: 40 x 25 • Leaf Paper Size HxW cm: 52 x 36 • Style: FOLIO Original Vintage • Print on Verso: Blank on verso • Condition: Excellent, with minor toning at edges • Edition Type: 1st Edition - Limited • Paper Type: Laid Paper, Watermarked • Framed: Print only
A beautiful copperplate engraving of a the Ptarmigan bird, drawn by celebrated artist George Edwards, from Thomas Pennant's 1766 Large Folio "The British Zoology", 1st Edition. Published in London, 1766. Engraved by Peter Mazell. Fine hand colour as issued. This originally hand-colored, folio bird engraving is from Thomas Pennant's "The British Zoology." The work was published in 1766 in London byJ. and J. March. The drawings were by P. Paillou, G. Edwards, et. al. and the etchingsby P. Mazell.
Thomas Pennant was a leading naturalist in England in the 18th century. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and counted amongst his confidants Carl Linnaeus and Sir Joseph Banks. Pennant's work was noted as the first to publish color illustrations of birds in a work that attempted to describe all of the British species, many life-size. The mammals included in the work was also a rare occurance for an 18th century work.
Condition of Plate: EXCELLENT. Minor toning at extreme edges.