Beschreibung:

George Edwards
Histoire Naturelle de Divers Oiseaux. London: printed for the author,1745-1748
Parts 1 and 2 (only, of 4), in 2 volumes, 4to (291 x 229mm.), vol. 1: autograph letter signed bound before title, 52 hand-coloured engraved plates; vol. 2: printed dedication to the Duchess of Richmond, hand-coloured engraved allegorical frontispiece, 53 further hand-coloured engraved plates, 1 plain engraved plate, decorative woodcut head- and tailpieces and historiated initials in each volume, contemporary red morocco gilt, rebacked, gilt edges, hand-coloured patterned endpapers, volume 2: closed tears to lower margins of a few plates (not affecting illustrations), bumped at lower margin; both volumes:transfer from plates onto facing leaves, extremities rubbed
PRESENTATION COPY, WITH AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED FROM THE AUTHOR TO THE DUCHESS OF RICHMOND IN THE FIRST VOLUME.
"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" (Jackson). Inserted in this copy is an autograph letter, dated January 13 1747, regarding the translation of the History of Birds and presenting this copy to the Duchess of Richmond, probably Lady Sarah Lennox, wife of Charles, the 2nd Duke of Richmond:
"I have considered that the translation of my second part of History of birds without the first is but an imperfect thing therefore in Consideration of your graces generosety [sic] I must beg the favour that you will be pleased to accept this first part of the French translation gratis in Order to make the Book perfect".
The Duke and Duchess of Richmond gave lifelong support to George Edwards who first encountered them through Sir Hans Sloane. Edwards' work A Natural History of Birds first catapulted him into fame for his ornithological drawings, and led to Sloane having Edwards appointed as bedell at the Royal College of Physicians in 1733. The Duke would send stuffed and live birds to Edwards for him to draw. Histoire Naturelle de Divers Oiseaux was dedicated to the the 2nd Duke of Richmond, and the second volume (1748) was dedicated to the Duchess, "showing that, through the descent from Louise de Keroualle, they were still very much thought of as leading Francophiles" (R. Baird. Goodwood: Art and Architecture, Sport and Family, 2007, pp. 70-71). Edwards' close relationship with the Duke and Duchess led to his appointment to a fellowship of the Royal Society in 1744.
LITERATURE:Anker 125; Nissen IVB 287
PROVENANCE:Lady Sarah Lennox (née Cadogan, 1705-1751), Duchess of Richmond: autograph letter addressed "To Her Grace the Duchess of Richmond &c." bound before title; Charles Lennox 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735-1806): gilt armorial stamps to upper covers (UToronto, British Armorial Bindings, Stamp 3); Cornelius Denne, Esq., Bedford Row: engraved armorial bookplate; Robert Snow, engraved armorial bookplate; Lady Ada Charlotte Godolphin Boyd (1870-1944), sold Sotheby's 15 October 1942, lot 831Condition reportCondition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
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