FOLIO SOCIETY A HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS 2 Volume Set Thomas Bewick NEW SEALED

Description: Folio Society - A HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS by Thomas Bewick 2 Hardback Volumes in an Illustrated Slipcase:-• Volume 1: Land Birds• Volume 2: Water Birds ‘A work without parallel … a continuous delight’ – Jenny Uglow A pioneering classic of British ornithology and artFirst published in two separate volumes between 1797 and 1804, Thomas Bewick's A History of British Birds was the first field guide to appear in Britain. Unlike the massive folios that preceded it, this lively work was intended to sit in a capacious coat pocket, so that the novice ornithologist could use it to check the feathered legs of a barn owl or distinguish between a shrike and a woodchat. It is a serious guide, written with a countryman's understanding of nature and a scholar's knowledge of classifications. For his engravings, Bewick used many sources, but he preferred to draw from life, complaining how many errors there were in previous books, and how stiff the illustrations copied from stuffed specimens appeared. Indeed, the accuracy and detail of Bewick's observations stand up well today. This edition is quarter-bound in blue leather with traditional raised bands on the spine and hand-marbled paper sides, modelled after fine 18th-century bindings. The type has been reset using the 1826 edition which was the final edition printed during Bewick's lifetime and revised by him in person. Reproducing the engravings called for a highly skilled and technical approach. The Folio Society consulted Iain Bain, printing historian and expert on Bewick, who recommended using the 1848 edition which he considers the best edition ever printed from the original wood blocks. Each engraving was scanned by a specialist art reprographer. Normally engravings are printed black only, but because of the tonal range of Bewick's images, the illustrations in this edition have been printed in duotone to allow the full range of detail and shading to be seen. It is thought that this edition is the finest reproduction yet produced. DESCRITION: 2 volume box set. Introduced by Jenny Uglow. Quarter-bound in leather with hand-marbled paper sides by Jemma Lewis. Coloured top edges. Set in Bulmer. 912 pages in total with approx.. 500 illustrations. Blue, 2 volume slipcase with decoration. Size: 83/4” x 53/4”. CONDITION: Book is NEW and SEALED in the publisher’s original SHRINK WRAP (see photos). Due to the weight of this set of books (nearly 3 kilos when packaged), postage will be via the Royal Mail Tracked 48 with Signature service costing £8.50 All items are sent at cost price whether purchasing a single or multiple items. Due to size, weight and value considerations it is not possible to accurately calculate combined postage automatically. Always feel free to ask or if purchases require immediate payment I will refund any difference. All items must be sent to the address stipulated during the payment process. All items are sent via recorded delivery unless they are of little monetary value. Virtually all my items are available through the global shipping program (GSP) to designated countries outside the UK. Please note I have no control over international postage costs. I do not set these, eBay's GSP does, I send the items to an address in the UK and am not even aware of the country for which they are destined. Items purchased through the GSP must be sent via the GSP shipping centre. Please ask any questions before buying

Price: 139.99 GBP

Location: UK

End Time: 2025-01-18T21:40:14.000Z

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