[Pennant, Thomas] | An extra-illustrated copy of the British Zoology, complete with the supplementary plates

[Pennant, Thomas]

The British Zoology. Class I. Quadrupeds. II Birds. London: J. and J. March, [1761-]1766

4 parts and the scarce supplement in 2 volumes, folio (508 x 350 mm). Title-page and dedication printed in red and black, 133 handcolored plates (11 of quadrupeds and 122 of birds) by P. Mazell after P. Paillou, Desmoulins, G. Haulner, C. Collins, P. Brown, and G. Edwards, an extra-illustrated copy, enhanced by the inclusion of 20 fine watercolors, all presumably by Samuel Howitt with one signed, some full-page and others on conjoined half-sheets, plate of the female Black Cock in two states, one with different coloring; mild dampstaining affecting the edges of the front free endpapers and initial blanks, mild offsetting and stray spots, numerous plates captioned with bird identifications in pencil, the second plate of the female Black Cock trimmed at blank fore-margin, plate S1 with restoration at upper blank margin, plate of the Red Godwit with short closed tears affecting the plate, all but one of which expertly repaired, and re-enforced with a leaf of paper, plate of the female Pintail with repair at lower inner margin, original watercolors with occasional smudging, creasing, and with occasional minor restoration to the leaves not affecting the illustrations. In early nineteenth-century half russia over marbled-paper boards, black and red morocco lettering-pieces; rebacked with calf, extremities rubbed.

A sumptuous, extra-illustrated copy of the first edition of this ambitious attempt to capture all known British birds and quadrupeds in one work, complete with the rare supplementary twenty-five plates. While most copies contain only 132 plates, Mullens & Swan note, "copies are extant containing 133 plates, but these are not as originally published" (p. 464). These copies typically feature a second or other state plate, as is the case in this present copy. Even further, the present copy contains twenty very fine watercolors, presumably commissioned by an early owner of the volumes, illustrating species not appearing in the printed work. These watercolors include depictions of the Ringtail Eagle; Sea Eagle; Peregrine Falcon; Kestrel; Hobby, male and female; Greater Spotted Woodpecker; Bittern; Great White Heron; Curlew; Lesser Godwit; Snipe; Jacksnipe, male and female; Ruff, before and after molting; Sandpipers, 3 examples; "Sandpiper having two horns"; "Glaucus Prociales or seagull"; "Black Toed gull shot at Edengales"; "Golden oriole & bee eater," together on one leaf. That of the Curlew is signed "Howitt," and presumably all of the watercolors are also by Samuel Howitt (1756?-1782), a hunting, sporting, and natural history painter. The present watercolors are characteristic of other examples of his bird paintings, all of which demonstrate his attention to detail. 

Thomas Pennant was a preeminent eighteenth-century polymath: he was an authority on birds, animals, plants, geology, antiquities and marine life, and corresponded with the Comte de Buffon, Voltaire, Haller and Pallas. He commenced his British Zoology in 1761, following the continental trend of recording and illustrating one’s native species. The publication of the work led to him being elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and although the enormous cost of producing the rich color plates meant he made little profit from the project, the money it did generate he donated to the British charity school at Clerkenwell Green.

"The first coloured illustrations of birds in a book which attempted to list and portray all of the British species, many of them life-size... Peter Paillou contributed most of the designs and coloured the prints, the colour being extended to the trees, branches and foregrounds... they showed what could be done in the production of good, large pictures of British birds. Much of the credit must go to Mazell, the meticulous and tidy etcher, for his fidelity to Paillou's drawings" (Jackson).

REFERENCE:

Anker 392; Fine Bird Books, p. 99; Jackson, Etchings, p. 106; McGill/Wood, p. 515; Mullens and Swann, pp. 464-466; Nissen IVB 710; Zimmer, p. 487

PROVENANCE:

J.G. Verdoorn (signature dated 1965 on title-pages) — Ornithologische-Bibliothek (library stamp to initial blanks) — Christie's London, 17 March 1999, lot 160 (undesignated consignor)