GROUP OF FOUR 18TH CENTURY GILTWOOD FRAMED HANDCOLORED ENGRAVINGS OF BIRDS, GEORGE EDWARDS.George Edwards (1694-1773), A Natural History of Uncommon Birds/Gleanings of Natural History (1743-1764). Consisting of four handcolored engravings depicting The Snowbird from Hudson's Bay; Dominican Cardinal, the Greatest Bullfinch Cock; and Plate 109, Untitled. All identically framed in giltwood with french mats and uv plexi. Accompanied by original pages describing the birds from folios.
Edwards was a contemporary of fellow British natural history artist Mark Catesby (1683-1749). Edwards made considerable contributions to the study of birds, and held numerous positions as a scholar and scientist. He is generally considered the father of modern British ornithology. His descriptions and pictures of birds provided reference material for the renowned Swedish biologist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), who gave scientific names to 350 bird species described by Edwards. As one of the most important and comprehensive of all English 18th century natural history works, the prints depict a broad spectrum of birds, including species native to Great Britain and Europe, as well as exotic tropical birds such as parrots, cockatoos, macaws and toucans. - Framed: 15 7/8" high x 13 1/2" wide. Estimate $400-600
