gould john n a vigors (1 résultats)

Hardcover. Etat : Very good. First. First edition of Gould's first multi-volume bird book. London: By the author, [1832]-1837. Five volumes. 448 hand-colored lithographed plates (images 447 and 448 are on a single plate) by Edward Lear, John Gould and Elizabeth Gould, printed by C. Hullmandel. Bound by Hering (signed at the upper edge of the front paste-down) in contemporary green morocco with extra gilt borders on the boards. On the spine, five raised bands with a triple gilt fillet. Panels gilt. Title gilt to the second panel, number gilt to the third panel. Triple gilt fillets to the edges of the boards. Gilt inside dentelle. With all edges of the text-block gilt. Spines uniformly sunned. Extremities a little scuffed. End-papers foxed, but internally very good, with occasional offsetting. With the armorial bookplate of Algernon Peckover on the front paste-down of vol. I. Ownership signature (1842) of William Peckover on the verso of the first free end-paper of vol. I. Here is the beginning of the great project by Gould: to present the birds of the world in large-format richly-illustrated multi-volume works. The masterful plates illustrate the text by N.A. Vigors, and in this respect The Birds of Europe stands apart: Gould would provide the text for subsequent endeavors. The challenge of illustrating European birds was to overcome the familiarity of his audience. The result is clear from the subsequent dozens of volumes that would emerge over the following five decades. One of the keys to this success is the involvement of Edward Lear. 68 of the plates were drawn by the poet-artist, and have an almost cartoonish clarity; there is a surety of line that distinguishes his work from other ornithological illustrators' preciousness. Lear's working method differed somewhat from the Goulds' (John Gould was called "bird-stuffer" as his initial role was as taxidermist for the Zoological Society), since he was given to drawing from life. This practice began in his employment by the Earl of Derby drawing the menagerie at Knowsley Hall. To his achievement in gathering the material and superintending the great project we must also add his business acumen: he undertook the subscription, printing and publication of the work - in parts, and, remarkably, ahead of schedule. Unlike so many of the great entrepreneurs of plate-books, Gould managed not only to avoid bankruptcy but also to turn a great profit. William (1790â1877) and Algernon (1803â1893) Peckover were sons of the famous Quaker banker Jonathan Peckover of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. The brothers were founder members of the Wisbech Museum, of which Algernon would go on to be president. Jonathan founded the Wisbech Literary Society in 1871. Ayer/Zimmer 251; Hyman, Lear's Birds p. 45; Jackson, Bird Illustrators pp. 32-58; Nissen, IVB 371. Sauer 2; Sitwell, Fine Bird Books p. 101.