Lot n° 65
Estimation :
60000 - 70000
EUR
LEWIN William
The birds of Great Britain with their eggs... London, the author, 1789-1794.
7 vol. in-4, 26,5 x 34cm, VIII +42 pp. with frontispiece and 43 plates (numbered 41) + VII plates & [1]f., 46 pp. 45 plates (numbered 42-86) +VI plates (numbered VIII-XIII) & [1]f., 42 pp. 41 plates (numbered 87-127) +V plates (numbered XIV-XVIII) & [1]f., 40 pp, 38 plates (numbered 128-165) +X plates (numbered XIX-XXVIII) & [1]f., 38 pp, 36 plates (numbered 166-201) +IX plates (numbered XXIX-XXXVII) & [1]f., 34 pp, 34 plates (numbered 202-235) +IX plates (numbered XXXVIII-XLVII) & [1]f., 34 pp, [3] ff, 33 plates (numbered 236-265) +V plates (numbered XLVIII-LII), contemporary English binding in red long-grained morocco, double fillet with angular ornithological irons and central composition of curved and straight fillets with angular fleurons, gilt on the boards, spine decorated with gilt grecques, roulettes and ornithological irons, gilt fillet on the edges, inner chain gilt, gilt edges.
Magnificent work, one of the most beautiful and rare on the birds of Great Britain, illustrated with 323 large original gouaches executed by the author, helped by his sons Thomas and John: 271 represent birds and 52 eggs.
The work, carefully printed on strong paper, was printed in an edition of about sixty copies.
A fine copy, with large margins, superbly bound in contemporary morocco, from the library of the great bibliophile Marcel Jeanson (bookplate engraved in each volume, 9th sale, Neuilly, 10october 2001, n°168). Engraved label of the Budd & Calkin bookshop on Pall Mall in the first volume. Handwritten note from the 1830s in ink on the verso of the first flyleaf stating that "these exquisite drawings, the only set that Mr Lewin did, were done expressly" for Princess Charlotte of Great Britain, Duchess of Wurtemberg. Some oologically oxidized plates. Corners very slightly rubbed.
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