History of British Birds. Vol. I: Land Birds [and] Vol. II: Water Birds

Newcastle: Printed by Edward Walker, for T. Bewick, 1797-1804. xxx, [2], 335, [1]-ad; xx, 400, numerous wood engravings, vignettes, etc.. . HB. 2 vols, roy. 8vo (240x148mm), 19th-century full panelled calf, gt, raised bands to spine, gilt tooling to compartments and turn-ins, aeg, marbled endpapers. Lightly rubbed; front inner hinges cracked but firm. A finely bound set.. The figures engraved on wood by Thomas Bewick. First editions.Vol. I: Roscoe 14c (Thin royal), variant A; advert to final leaf is for third edition of <i>Quadrupeds</i>; Vol. II: Roscoe 17c (Thin royal), variant A.Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) was a passionate naturalist, ‘a son of nature’, as Audubon called him, a man immersed in the English countryside. He is considered as England’s most masterly engraver, and his books are illustrated with his charming wood engravings. Bewick created these books with the purpose of instructing the youth, remarking on his illustrations, ‘… I illustrated them by figures delineated with all the fidelity and animation I was able to impart to mere woodcuts without colour; and as instruction is of little avail without constant cheerfulness and occasional amusement, I interspersed the more serious studies with Tale-pieces of gaiety and humour.’ (Roscoe, p. xv)..