- 8
Lewin, William
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- The Birds of Great Britain, with their eggs, accurately figured. London: printed for the author, 1789-1794
- paper
FIRST EDITION, ONE OF 60 COPIES WITH GOUACHE DRAWINGS, 7 volumes bound in 3, 4to (330 x 256mm.), 323 hand-coloured drawings, many embellished with watercolour-tinted backgrounds and heightened with gum arabic, contemporary straight-grained red morocco gilt, gilt edges, bindings rubbed
Provenance
Madelaine Jay, bookplate
Literature
Fine Bird Books, p.119; Jackson, Etchings, pp.159-164; Mullens and Swann, pp.349-351; Nissen IVB 5623; Wood, p.435
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
One of only sixty sets illustrated entirely with gouache drawings by Lewin, and as such is unique among bird books. The vast energy required for the production of sixty sets each comprising 323 watercolours (nearly twenty thousand individual pictures in all) establishes The Birds of Great Britain as a singular monument in English ornithology.