{"product_id":"a-history-of-british-birds-thomas-bewick-1805-imperial-octavo-edition","title":"A History of British Birds, Thomas Bewick — 1805 Imperial Octavo Edition","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\" id=\"p-rc_246b55e7381b5628-636\"\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"5,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003ePublication:\u003c\/b\u003e Newcastle, Printed by Edward Walker, for T. Bewick; sold by him, and Longman and Rees, London, 1805.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"5,1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eFormatting:\u003c\/b\u003e Imperial 8vo, 2 vols.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"7\" id=\"p-rc_246b55e7381b5628-637\"\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCondition Report:\u003c\/b\u003e Very Good. These handsome volumes are firmly bound in a classic half-leather binding over marbled boards, presenting a highly attractive shelf appearance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,2\"\u003e. The leather spines, featuring five raised bands and gilt lettering, remain supple, though they exhibit minor rubbing and gentle wear at the extreme head and tail caps, alongside light bumping to the leather-clad corners\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,4\"\u003e. The hinges are solid, and the text blocks are remarkably square and tight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,5\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,6\"\u003e. Internally, the pages boast generous margins and retain a crisp quality, with the typical foxing largely confined to the preliminary leaves and title pages, leaving the majority of the leaves clean\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,7\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"7,8\"\u003e. The marbled page edges remain vibrant and unblemished.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\" id=\"p-rc_246b55e7381b5628-638\"\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"8,0\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"8,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eCatalogue Note:\u003c\/b\u003e This 1805 printing of \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"8,0\" data-index-in-node=\"38\"\u003eA History of British Birds\u003c\/i\u003e is highly esteemed among collectors and naturalists alike. Specifically identified as the larger paper \"Imperial Octavo\" variant (referencing bibliography numbers Roscoe 18b and 19b), this issue benefits from superior presswork on large paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"8,1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"8,2\"\u003e. Bewick himself considered this expanded text his defining \"Best Edition,\" vastly superior to its predecessors due to the meticulous care taken in the printing of the delicate woodcuts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"8,3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"8,4\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\" id=\"p-rc_246b55e7381b5628-639\"\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"9,0\"\u003eThe volumes are abundantly illustrated throughout with Bewick's masterful wood-engraved figures of birds and his characteristically humorous, and occasionally macabre, vignette tail-pieces\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"9,1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"9,2\"\u003e. Adding to the charm of this set is the distinct armorial bookplate of Arthur Stanley Towsey affixed to the front pastedown, situated alongside an early tipped-in bookseller’s catalogue clipping that rightly champions the edition's elevated status\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"9,3\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003csup class=\"superscript\"\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-path-to-node=\"9,4\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003eThomas Bewick's \u003ci data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"23\"\u003eA History of British Birds\u003c\/i\u003e remains a towering achievement in both ornithology and the art of wood engraving. First published at the turn of the 19th century, this accessible yet scientifically keen work effectively birthed the modern field guide, bringing the vivid realities of British avian life to the wider public. Bewick's innovative use of end-grain wood engraving allowed for an unprecedented level of texture and vitality, ensuring that these volumes are not merely natural history records, but enduring works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Broadhursts Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54141539877203,"sku":"4172","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/1469\/6787\/files\/20260616_102710.jpg?v=1782810151","url":"https:\/\/broadhurstsbooks.com\/products\/a-history-of-british-birds-thomas-bewick-1805-imperial-octavo-edition","provider":"Broadhursts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}