Set Of Four Antique Georgian Hand Coloured Animal Engravings, Early 19Th Century

ANTIQUE NATURAL HISTORY HAND COLOURED COPPER PLATE ENGRAVINGS

Depicting seven exotic animals across four engravings.

Plate LXXIII - Depicts ‘Didelphis Gigante, Macropus Major or Kangaroo’ and ‘Dipus Jaculus, Common Jerboa or Alagtaga’.

Plate LII - Depicts ‘Arabian Camel’.

Plate CLI - Depicts ‘Lepus or Hare: Calling Hare, Alpine Hare and Ogotona Hare’ (these are now known as Pika, rather than Hares, relatives of the Hare from Asia and North America).

Plate XXI - Depicts ‘Antilope Cervicapra or Common Antelope’.

All were ‘Drawn from life by S. Edwards’. Sydenham Teast Edwards (1768-1819) was a Welsh-born, celebrated Natural history illustrator. The engravings all have a wonderful charm to them, and Edwards really has brought out the animal’s individual character.

Published by George Kearsley, Fleet Street, London, 1808. Dating from the latter part of George III's reign in the early 19th century, just prior to the regency period.

The engravings are all hand coloured with watercolour.

Framed and glazed in later matching and complementary white lacquered and parcel gilt frames with Boots framing labels dating from the early-mid 20th century period.

The engravings are all in great vintage condition, the colours still feel fresh and not faded, there is some minor wear commensurate with age, including some light foxing/discolouration in places, but no serious issues. The frames are also in great order, with handling wear commensurate with age.

Approximate overall measurements for each one: 25cm wide x 15.5cm high x 1.5cm deep.