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 32 • Leaf Paper Size HxW cm: 54 x 35.5 • Style: FOLIO Original Vintage • Print on Verso: Blank on verso • Condition: Very Good, slight foxing and toning in margins • Edition Type: 1st Edition - Limited • Paper Type: Laid Paper • Framed: Print only
Meticulously hand-coloured copperplate engraving of the Cock of the Wood (Teatrao Urogallus), from Thomas Pennant's famous work, "The British Zoology", published in 1766. Drawn by Peter Paillou, and etched by P. Mazell.
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: Very Good. Slight spotting in areas, very slight text ghosting. Minor toning at extreme edges.