Quarto. The renowned English printer, Benjamin Fawcett, like a large part of the English public had a fascination with birds and their representation in art. He wanted to print the most definitive guide to the birds of England but needed a good writer. He chose Francis Orpen Morris who had already written a small guide to British birds in 1834 as well as books on other natural history subjects. He was chosen for his expertise in arranging the insects in the Ashmolean Museum and his knowledge of birds. His love for birds led to his being considered the chief ornithologist in mid-Victorian England. Benjamin Fawcett also had Alexander Francis Lydon in his print shop who was one of his principle engravers. The plan to produce a multi-volume work with 358 hand colored engravings was enhanced by a team of expert women colorist (including Fawcett's wife who was a former colorist herself). The project began in the late 1840's and by June 1850 a few parts were issued in 24 pages of letterpress with four hand-colored plates. In 1851 the first edition appeared and over the next six years the set came in six volumes. Complete sets of the first edition are uncommon. All volumes had been rebound with original pictorial gilt cloth from covers laid down, backed in a fine green morocco lettered and decorated in gilt, renewed endpapers, small closed marginal tear to plate following page 102 of volume 5, occasional scattered foxing, the plates mostly clean. Beautiful coloring. ( Ref: Fine Bird Books, P. 125.).
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