A natural history of the birds of New South Wales, collected, engraved and faithfully painted after nature. (The Bradley Martin copy)

A$55,000 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Limited edition

By John William Lewin, A.L.S., late of Paramatta, New South Wales. New and improved edition, to which is added a list of the synonymes of each species, incorporating the labours of T. Gould, Esq., N. A. Vigors, Esq., T. Horsfield, M.D., and W. Swainson, Esq. A fine example, in original condition, of one of the rarest illustrated works of Australian natural history. London : Henry H. Bohn, 1838. Folio, original publisher s binding of quarter crushed Morocco over green cloth-covered boards, spine lettered in gilt Lewin s Birds of New Holland (spine rubbed, corners bumped); yellow endpapers; pp [iv], 26 etched plates with original gouache hand-colouring, interleaved with accompanying letterpress text. The naturalist and natural history artist John William Lewin arrived in New South Wales in 1800. Under the patronage of Governor King he was able to sketch and collect specimens in uncharted and exotic locations. He was allowed to join expeditions to the Hunter and to Bass Strait, as well as to make a voyage to Tahiti. His first collection of copperplate engravings, The Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wale s, was published by his brother, Thomas in London in 1805. Lewin probably completed the copperplates for his Birds of New South Wales some time in 1805, and The Birds of New Holland, with their Natural History was published, again by Thomas Lewin, in London in 1808. Only six copies of this work are known to be extant, all of those, including the copy given t

• Binding: Hardcover

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.