Known today as the Father of British Ornithology, George Edwards was a draftsman and naturalist who popularized the art of bird and animal illustrations throughout the 18th century. His main collections of etchings, which were bound as the volumes A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and Gleaning of Natural History, together comprise more than 600 animals and were the first works to delineate many of the featured species.
Edwards cultivated an interest in natural history while traveling around Europe, becoming particularly enamored with birds. Upon his return to the United Kingdom, in 1733, Irish physicist Hans Sloane, an acquaintance of British naturalists/illustrators Eleazar Albin and Mark Catesby, offered Edwards a librarian position at the Royal College of Physicians. The job granted him access to a large collection of works on natural history, which he explored enthusiastically.
With instruction from Catesby, Edwards learned etching and spent much of his time preparing plates and drawings for his books. While Edwards hand-colored his early editions, later works were colored in by other artists, like British artist Peter Paillou, allowing Edwards to focus on etching and writing.
George Edwards earned his reputation for both his illustrations and written descriptions of his subjects — widely acclaimed for their accuracy. Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus cited Edwards’s texts when developing his major work, Systema Naturæ. The Royal Society in London awarded Edwards the Copley Medal in 1750 for outstanding achievement in the field of science. Edwards retired in 1763 to Plaistow, England, and died in 1773.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of George Edwards engravings and wall decorations.
$22,500
George Edwards : A Set of Twelve 18th Century Etchings of Hummingbirds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural Hi...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
Set of Twelve 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
Set of Twelve 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards, Engravings of Parrots, published by Seligmann.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
PRICE IS FOR EACH FRAMED PRINT "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origina...
Watercolor, Etching
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Ducks And Wading Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor
$7,000
H 31.5 in W 42.25 in
Sandwich Tern (with Florida Cray Fish) (Florida Keys) /// Ornithology Audubon
By John James Audubon
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) Title: "Sandwich Tern (with Florida Cray Fish) (Florida Keys)" (Plate CCLXXIX - 279; part No. 56) Portfolio: The Birds of America, Ha...
Gold Leaf
$800
H 14.5 in W 19.75 in
Studio 54 - Bananarama - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
A small octopus is inked in the Japanese style of Gyo-Taku print making. Using sumi ink to "print" the octopus, the artist then embellishes it with colored pencil to convey an extra...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
$2,100
H 37 in W 25 in
Congregation - Japanese Style Gyotaku Painting of Koi on Marbled Mulberry Paper
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
In Japan they are known as Nishikigoi, or living jewels. These brilliantly colored varieties of the Amur carp have been selectively bred by family owned fisheries for generations. Wh...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper
$975
H 12.5 in W 18.25 in
Lemon Meringue - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of a Multi-Colored Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
A small octopus is inked in the Japanese style of Gyo-Taku print making. Using sumi ink to "print" the octopus, the artist then embellishes it with colored pencil to convey an extraordinary dimensionality. By printing it on Mulberry paper, which mimics the swirl of water, the artist achieves a beautiful aesthetic. The artwork is matted and framed in a simple white wooden frame measuring 18.25h x 24.25w x 1d inches. Jeff Conroy Lemon Meringue sumi ink and colored pencil on mulberry paper 12.50h x 18.25w in 31.75h x 46.35w cm JEC118 Gyotaku - A Japanese word translated from "gyo" meaning fish and "taku" meaning stone impression and is believed to get its inspiration from Chinese stone rubbings...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
$5,300
H 12.88 in W 9.63 in
Tree with moth, caterpillar..., Plate 39, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium
By Maria Sibylla Merian
Located in Middletown, NY
Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 39; Unidentified tree with moth, caterpillar and pupa. The Netherlands: 1705....
Watercolor, Engraving
$5,300
H 12.88 in W 9.63 in
Thistle and Moths, plate no. 6, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium
By Maria Sibylla Merian
Located in Middletown, NY
Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, Plate No. 6; Thistle and Moths. The Netherlands: 1705. Engraving with hand coloring in w...
Watercolor, Engraving
$975
H 15 in W 21 in
Goldilocks, Pastel - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Painting of an Octopus
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
A small octopus is inked in the Japanese style of Gyotaku print making. Using sumi ink to "print" the octopus, the artist then embellishes it with colored pe...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
$2,200
H 30 in W 22.5 in
Vintage French Modernist Jean Lurcat Watercolor Painting Mod Blue and Orange Owl
By Jean Lurçat
Located in Surfside, FL
Jean Lurcat,New York, France, 1892-1966 Depicts a highly stylized, expressionist owl bird figure hidden in leaves surrounded by bright, vibrant, vivid blue, yellow, and orange colors...
Watercolor, Lithograph
A Standing Leap at a Gate
By James Seymour
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
James Seymour (1702-1752) A Standing Leap at a Gate Mezzotint with hand colouring Image size 10 x 14 in Framed size 16 1/2 x 20 in James Seymour was an English artist renowned for h...
Mezzotint
$975
H 15 in W 20 in
Silver Lining: Blue Hue - Gyotaku Style Sumi Ink Octopus Painting, Framed
By Jeff Conroy
Located in Chicago, IL
A small octopus is inked in the Japanese style of Gyo-Taku print making. Using sumi ink to "print" the octopus, the artist then embellishes it with colored pencil to convey an extra...
Sumi Ink, Watercolor, Mulberry Paper, Color Pencil
The French Rooster
By Raymond Debieve
Located in London, GB
'The French Rooster', gouache on art paper, by Raymond Debiève (circa 1960s). A Mid-Century modern depiction of the French coq, or rooster. The origin o...
Paper, Gouache
$750
H 16.75 in W 14.5 in
Eagle /// Antique Ornithology Bird Saverio Manetti Italian Watercolor Engraving
By Saverio Manetti
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Saverio Manetti (Italian, 1723-1785) Title: "Eagle" (Plate V - 5) Portfolio: Storia Naturale Degli Uccelli (The Natural History of Birds) Year: 1767-1776 Medium: Original Han...
Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Engraving, Intaglio
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Engraving, Watercolor
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 19.5 in W 16.5 in
George Edwards, Engravings of Birds, published by Seligmann, 1770.
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
Price is per each framed print. "Sammlung Verschiedenr Auslandischer und Selener Vogel", Nuremberg 1770-1773. Edited by Johann Michael Seligmann (1749 -1776): engravings with origin...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving
George Edwards: 18th Century Engravings of Birds
By George Edwards
Located in Richmond, GB
George Edwards: ""A History of Uncommon Birds"", 1749-1761. A prominent English naturalist and ornithologist, George Edwards (1694 -1773) is best known for his work, ""A Natural His...
Watercolor, Engraving