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.
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
Bird and Beetle - Etching and watercolor (Natural History of Birds, 1741)
By George Edwards
Located in Paris, IDF
George EDWARDS Bird and beetle ('The Gowry Bird') Original engraving, enhanced with watercolor Printed signature in the plate Dated, 1741 28.8 x 23.3 cm Created for Volume I of the...
Engraving, Watercolor
George Edwards: c18th Engravings of Birds in Decalcomania Frames
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 Histo...
Watercolor, Etching
La Petite Venise (Provence) - Etching by Justin Gabriel - 1864 ca.
By George Edwards
Located in Roma, IT
Etching on laid paper Signed in plate lower left: Justin Gabriel Published by Cadart & Luquet, Éditeurs, 79 Rue Richelieu, Paris With the blindstamp of the Société des Aquafortis...
Etching
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards /// Bird Art
By George Edwards
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: George Edwards (English, 1694-1773) Title: "Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards" (Plates 276, 143) Portfolio: A Natural History of Uncommon Bi...
Watercolor, Laid Paper, Engraving, Intaglio
À Richmond (Angleterre) - Etching by George Edwards - 1864 ca.
By George Edwards
Located in Roma, IT
Etching on laid paper Signed in plate lower right: Edwards Published by Cadart & Luquet, Éditeurs, 79 Rue Richelieu, Paris With the blindstamp of the Société des Aquafortistes, l...
Etching
Turtles - Lithograph by George Edwards - 19th Century
By George Edwards
Located in Roma, IT
Turtles is an original print realized by George Edwards in the 18th century. Color lithograph. Original Title: Die kleine Moraft Tchildgröte, Tab. LXXVII. Good conditions, except...
Lithograph
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards /// Bird Art
By George Edwards
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: George Edwards (English, 1694-1773) Title: "Set of Two Hand-Colored Ornithological Engravings by George Edwards" (Plates 90, 308) Portfolio: A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals / Gleanings Of Natural History Year: 1743-1764 Medium: Set of Two Original Hand-Colored Engravings on watermarked laid and wove papers Limited edition: Unknown Printer: C. Rickaby, London, UK Publisher: William Gardiner and Messrs. Robinson, London, UK Sheet size (each): approx. 11.25" x 9" Image size (each): approx. 8.63" x 7.38" Reference: Mullens and Swann page 194-195; Anker No. 124-126; Fine Bird Books page 93; Lisney page 128-144; Nissen IVB No. 286-288; Zimmer page 192-198 Condition: "90" has faint offsetting to sheet. "308" has one foxmark center right. They are both otherwise in excellent condition with strong colors Notes: Comes from Edwards seven volume portfolio "A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of Some Other Rare and Undescribed Animals" / "Gleanings Of Natural History" (1743-1764), which consists of 362 hand-colored engravings. "90" is on laid paper with a "fleur-de-lis" watermark at center left edge. "308" is on wove paper with no watermark. The last image of the cover title sheets is for reference/provenance; it is not included. Biography: George Edwards FRS (3 April 1694 – 23 July 1773) was an English naturalist and ornithologist, known as the "father of British ornithology". Edwards was born at West Ham...
Intaglio, Engraving, Laid Paper, Watercolor
Traveling animals - Original etching enhanced with watercolor
By George Edwards
Located in Paris, IDF
George EDWARDS Traveling animals Original engraving enhanced with watercolor Signed in the plate and dated, 1746 28.6 x 23.5 cm From Volume II of the Natural History of Birds, plat...
Engraving
$1,975
H 11.38 in W 16.82 in
'Brooklyn Bridge' — Signed Color Etching, New York City, 1927
By Luigi Kasimir
Located in Myrtle Beach, SC
Luigi Kasimir, 'Brooklyn Bridge', color etching with aquatint, 1927, edition 100. Signed in pencil. A superb impression, with fresh colors, on heavy, cream wove paper; with margins...
Etching, Aquatint
$1,100
H 17.75 in W 16 in
The glass mountain shattered David Hockney Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
By David Hockney
Located in New York, NY
This etching from David Hockney’s celebrated Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm portfolio depicts the somewhat obscure story Old Rinkrank, which Hockney chose to illustrate beca...
Etching, Aquatint
$3,080Sale Price|20% Off
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.5 in
"Que pico de Oro" (What a Golden Beak) - Etching and Aquatint on Paper
By Francisco Goya
Located in Soquel, CA
"Que pico de Oro" (What a Golden Beak) - Etching and Aquatint on Paper 5th or 8th edition print of "Que pico de Oro" from the Los Caprichos with burnished aquatints, drypoints etchi...
Engraving, Etching, Aquatint, Laid Paper
$600
H 3.75 in W 5.875 in
Tigre couché à l'entrée de son antre (Tiger Lying at the Entrance to its Lair)
By Eugène Delacroix
Located in Middletown, NY
Etching, drypoint, and roulette on watermarked Hallines cream laid paper, 3 3/4 x 5 7/8 inches (95 x 148 mm), full margins. A very good impression of this charming image, with all of...
Laid Paper, Drypoint, Etching
HARVESTERS
By Doel Reed
Located in Santa Monica, CA
DOEL REED (1894 - 1958) HARVESTERS, c. 1954 Aquatint in sepia. Signed and numbered in pencil, Image 11 1/2 x 17 ¾". Sheet with deckle edges 13 ¾ x19 3/8”. In good condition save ...
Aquatint
$965
H 14 in W 18 in D 0.5 in
"Collection Of The Most Rare Birds" - Hand Watercolor Engraving
Located in Soquel, CA
"Collection Of The Most Rare Birds" - Hand Colored Engraving Collection of the Most Rare Birds Drawn and Engraved From Life, A Natural and Rational Histor...
Paper, Watercolor, Engraving
$250
H 10 in W 8 in
Le Canard a Longue Queue (The Long Tailed Duck) /// Ornithology Martinet Bird
By François Nicolas Martinet
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: François-Nicolas Martinet (French, 1731-1800) Title: "Le Canard a Longue Queue (The Long Tailed Duck)" (Plate 954) Portfolio: Histoire Naturelle Des Oiseaux *Signed by Martin...
Watercolor, Laid Paper, Engraving, Intaglio
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
$1,690
H 11.875 in W 15.75 in
19th century color lithograph hares animal nature print wildlife
By John James Audubon
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Townsend's Rocky Mountain Hare" is an original color lithograph by John James Audubon. This artwork features two gray hares in a muted, cool-colored landscape. 5 1/2" x 8 1/4" art...
Lithograph
$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
Otto Schubert Pen & Ink Fairy Tale
By Otto Schubert
Located in Paonia, CO
Otto Schubert Pen & Ink Fairy Tale is an original pen & ink sketch 1927 from one of the artist's illustrations for a fairy tale. There is a father and mother fox talking to two younger versions of themselves. They are all dressed in human clothes at the door of their house with smoke coming out of the chimney. Next to the house is a tree with a mountain in the background and another house in the distance. There is gardening equipment here and there. In the foreground we see sketches of a rabbit in different poses with some writing in German below the middle image.The artis'ts pencil signature is bottom right. A rare opportunity to own an original signed sketch by this artist. There is a wrinkle in the bottom right side otherwise normal wear and in fair condition. Karl Max Otto Schubert ( 1892-1970 ) was a rising star in Dresden when the city was considered the cultural center of Germany. In 1919 he founded the Dresdner Sezession Gruppe together with Oskar Kokoschka, Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmüller and others. Schubert was known for his portfolio of war lithographs...
India Ink
$1,900Sale Price|32% Off
H 19.69 in W 26.78 in D 0.79 in
Original Japanese Watercolor and Woodblock Print of a Lark, Barley and Beans
By Imao Keinen 1
Located in Burbank, CA
Barley, broad beans and a lark (Omugi, soramame, hibari). Original preparatory watercolor next to the finished original Japanese woodblock print. This is a highly finished preparator...
Watercolor, Woodcut
Sold
H 13 in W 11.03 in D 1.97 in
A Group of Twelve 18th Century engravings of Parrots.
By George Edwards
Located in London, London
Edwards, George Parrots, a group of twelve. London, For the author, at the College of Physicians in Warwick-Lane. 1747-1751 Decorative plates for “A Natural History of Birds” one ...
Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 15.75 in W 13.75 in
George Edwards: c18th Engravings of Birds in Decalcomania Frames
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 Histo...
Watercolor, Etching
Sold
H 9 in W 7.25 in D 1 in
George Edwards, A Toucan on a branch, 18th century hand coloured engraving
By George Edwards
Located in Harkstead, GB
A really eye-catching image of this most exotic and characterful of birds. George Edwards (1694 – 1773) was an English naturalist and ornithologist, known as the "father of British ornithology".Edwards was born at Stratford, Essex. In his early years he travelled extensively through mainland Europe, studying natural history, and gained some reputation for his coloured drawings of animals, especially birds. In 1733, on the recommendation of Sir Hans Sloane...
Paper, Watercolor, Engraving
Sold
H 15.75 in W 13.75 in
George Edwards: c18th Engravings of Birds in Decalcomania Frames
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 Histo...
Watercolor, Etching
Sold
H 15.75 in W 13.75 in
George Edwards: c18th Engravings of Birds in Decalcomania Frames
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 Histo...
Watercolor, Etching
Sold
H 19.25 in W 16.75 in D 0.88 in
18th Century Hand Colored George Edwards Lanius (Shrike) Bird Engraving
By George Edwards
Located in Alamo, CA
18th century hand colored copper-plate engraving of an exotic bird, "Lanius, cauda forcipata" or Shrike, Tab VII from "A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of some other Rare and...
Engraving
Sold
H 19.25 in W 16.75 in D 0.88 in
18th Century Hand Colored Bird Engraving by George Edwards
By George Edwards
Located in Alamo, CA
18th century hand colored copper-plate engraving of an exotic bird, "Avis quaedam specici mixtae, ex Gallo Indico et Phafiano natae" (a type of Pheasant), Tab XXVII from from "A Natu...
Engraving
Sold
H 19.25 in W 16.75 in D 0.88 in
18th Century Hand Colored George Edwards Engraving of "Fringilla Africana" Bird
By George Edwards
Located in Alamo, CA
An 18th century hand colored copper-plate engraving of an exotic bird, "Fringilla, Africana, macroura" or Pin-tailed whydah, Tab LXVI drawn by George Edwards 1694-1773), the premier ...
Engraving
Sold
H 19.25 in W 16.75 in D 0.88 in
Three 18th Century Hand Colored Engravings of Birds by George Edwards
By George Edwards
Located in Alamo, CA
Three 18th century hand colored copper-plate engravings of exotic birds drawn by George Edwards 1694-1773), the premier British natural history artist of the era and known as "The Fa...
Engraving