George Edwards Prints

English, 1694-1773

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.

Creator: George Edwards

GEORGE EDWARDS - Two Hand Colored Ornithological Engravings - U.K. - C.1741-1759

$4,200Sale Price / set|30% Off

GEORGE EDWARDS - Two Hand Colored Ornithological Engravings - U.K. - C.1741-1759

By George Edwards

Located in Chatham, ON

GEORGE EDWARDS (Naturalist, ornithologist and artist 1694-1773) - 'A Natural History of Uncommon Birds' (Published in several volumes between 1743 and 1764) - Antique pair of mid 18t...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

12 ANTIQUE 1740 GEORGE EDWARDS HAND COLOURED ORNITHOLOGICAL ENGRAVINGS OF BIRDs

$34,271 / set

H 10.63 in W 8.27 in D 0.79 in

12 ANTIQUE 1740 GEORGE EDWARDS HAND COLOURED ORNITHOLOGICAL ENGRAVINGS OF BIRDs

By George Edwards

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare suite of Twelve original 1740-1760 dated hand water coloured prints after George Edwards 169...

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1740s English George II Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

Rare Engraving by William Home Lizars Circa 1826 Hand Colored

$2,250

H 28.5 in W 24 in D 2 in

Rare Engraving by William Home Lizars Circa 1826 Hand Colored

By William Home Lizars

Located in Hudson, NY

[VASCULAR] Lymphatic nodes and vessels of the leg. Rare, circa 1826, first edition anatomical engraving by William Home Lizars (1788-1859) the talented Edinburgh artist and head of...

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1820s Scottish George II Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

Pair Of Hand Colored Engravings Of Parrots

$3,850 / set

H 24.25 in W 21.5 in D 1.38 in

Pair Of Hand Colored Engravings Of Parrots

Located in Essex, MA

Two framed hand colored stipple engravings of parrots by Jacques Barraband published 1801-05. In beautifully matted and gilded frames. From Judy Cormier. One print with some foxing.

Category

Early 1800s French Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Glass, Giltwood, Paper

Three Antique Hand Colored Engravings of Birds

$4,500 / set

H 19.5 in W 17 in D 1 in

Three Antique Hand Colored Engravings of Birds

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Three 18th century hand colored engravings of parrot specimens as depicted by Peter Brown, an artist and naturalist, working in London England. Originally published in 1776 in a foli...

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18th Century English British Colonial Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

Pair of Hand Colored Sea Shell Engravings, 18th Century, Framed

$4,500 / set

H 28 in W 22.5 in D 1.5 in

Pair of Hand Colored Sea Shell Engravings, 18th Century, Framed

By Niccolo Gualtier

Located in Downingtown, PA

Nature’s Nautical Architecture: A Pair of Hand-Colored Gualtieri Shell Engravings Circa 1742 These hand-colored engravings originate from Niccolò Gualtieri’s seminal work of natural...

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Mid-18th Century Italian Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

Edward Edwards R.A. Landscape Engraving, 1790

$240

H 9.25 in W 9.5 in D 0.5 in

Edward Edwards R.A. Landscape Engraving, 1790

Located in Savannah, GA

Edward Edwards R.A. (English, 1738-1806) landscape engraving, published 1790 Paper: 6 by 4 ½ inches frame: 9 ½ by 9 ¼ inches

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1790s British Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Pair Jacques Barraband Hand Colored Ornithological Bird Prints

$4,800 / set

H 21 in W 18 in D 1 in

Pair Jacques Barraband Hand Colored Ornithological Bird Prints

By Jacques Barraband

Located in Rio Vista, CA

Enchanting pair of 19th century hand-colored stipple engravings of parakeets by French illustrator Jacques Barraband (French 1767-1809). Each print is mounted and framed with a giltw...

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19th Century French Regency Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Acrylic, Giltwood, Paper

English Hand Colored Billiards Escene Engraving Print

$1,543

H 15.95 in W 22.25 in D 0.79 in

English Hand Colored Billiards Escene Engraving Print

Located in Barcelona, ES

An antique English hand colored framed print titled "Billiards" Gentlemen playing billiard scene. Designed and etched by E.F. Lambert, published by Thomas Mc Lean, 1827,Haymarket, Lo...

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Early 20th Century English Georgian George Edwards Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper, Glass

Pair Hand-Colored Venetian Engravings after Canaletto

$9,000 / set

H 2 in W 25.25 in D 19 in

Pair Hand-Colored Venetian Engravings after Canaletto

By Giovanni Antonio Canal (Canaletto)

Located in New York, NY

Pair hand-colored Venetian engravings after Canaletto. 18th century hand-colored Venetian engravings in period gilt frames after Canaletto (1697-1768) with view of the Grand Canal t...

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18th Century Italian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Gesso, Giltwood, Paper

Antique American Nautical Sailboat Hand Colored Engraving

$750

H 28.5 in W 36 in D 1 in

Antique American Nautical Sailboat Hand Colored Engraving

Located in Lambertville, NJ

A hand colored copper engraving print of an American steamship published by President Ackermann & Co, London, 1840 in a later frame under glass.

Category

1840s English Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Chinese Peacock-Pheasant – Hand-Colored Engraving by Edwards & Seligmann, c.1770

$816

H 14.77 in W 9.26 in D 0 in

Chinese Peacock-Pheasant – Hand-Colored Engraving by Edwards & Seligmann, c.1770

Located in Langweer, NL

Chinese Peacock-Pheasant – Hand-Colored Bird Engraving by Edwards & Seligmann, c.1750–1776 This fine hand-colored engraving depicts the Chinese Peacock-Pheasant (Phasianus alis et caudâ oculatis), an exotic species admired in Europe for its ornate plumage. The bird is shown perched gracefully on a flowering branch, its feathers marked with striking blue and green eye-like spots. Decorative peonies frame the composition, enhancing the print’s ornamental character. The engraving bears multilingual titles: “Der chinesische Phasanenpfau” (German), “Le Paon-Phaisan de la Chine” (French), and the Latin classification Phasianus, alis et caudâ, oculatis. At the lower left, the note G. Edwards ad viv. delin. credits the original life drawing...

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1770s German Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

Pair Of Hand Colored Engravings Of Moths

$950 / set

H 21.5 in W 18.75 in D 1 in

Pair Of Hand Colored Engravings Of Moths

Located in Essex, MA

Nicely framed with marbled double matting and gilded and painted frames.

Category

1780s English Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Wood, Paper

Previously Available Items

!8th-century Engraved Prints of Exotic Birds by George Edwards (12)

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H 16.5 in W 13.63 in D 1.13 in

!8th-century Engraved Prints of Exotic Birds by George Edwards (12)

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

A Cabinet of Curiosities: Set of Twelve George Edwards Exotic Birds Engravings, Dated 1744–1761 This extraordinary suite of twelve framed artworks features original, hand-colored en...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

!8th-century Engraved Prints of Parrots by George Edwards

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H 16.5 in W 13.63 in D 1.13 in

!8th-century Engraved Prints of Parrots by George Edwards

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

A Cabinet of Curiosities: Set of Twelve George Edwards Parrot Engraving, Dated circa 1744–1745 This extraordinary suite of twelve framed artworks features original, hand-colored eng...

Category

1740s English George II Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

The Cock Padda or Rice-Bird by George Edwards, 1743-1751

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H 18 in W 15.5 in D 1 in

The Cock Padda or Rice-Bird by George Edwards, 1743-1751

By George Edwards

Located in Kenilworth, IL

Hand colored ornithological copper plate engraving titled "The Cock Padda or Rice-Bird" by George Edwards (1694-1773), printed on laid paper. This engraving is plate 41 from "A Natur...

Category

Mid-18th Century British Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Set of Twelve Parrot Engravings with Chinoiserie Frames

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H 17.19 in W 14.25 in D 0.75 in

George Edwards Set of Twelve Parrot Engravings with Chinoiserie Frames

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards Set of Twelve Parrot Engravings with chinoiserie Frames, Natural History of Birds, Engraved by Georg Dionysius Ehret, Mid-18th cent...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Prints of Parrots with Decoupage Frames

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H 16.5 in W 13.5 in D 1.25 in

George Edwards Prints of Parrots with Decoupage Frames

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards prints of parrots with decoupage frames, The engraver Georg Dionysius Ehret, Set of six, circa 1745-1750 The George Edwards engra...

Category

1740s English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

18th Century George Edwards Engravings of a Woodpecker

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H 16.75 in W 14 in D 1 in

18th Century George Edwards Engravings of a Woodpecker

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards engravings of a bird, Woodpecker, Picus Bengalensis, #82, 1745 A George Edwards hand-colored engraving of a Woodpecker in a d...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Engravings of Birds, a Set of Six

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H 16.75 in W 14 in D 1 in

George Edwards Engravings of Birds, a Set of Six

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards engravings of birds- A set of Six The George Edwards engravings of six different birds in their natural environment are now mounted in a decoupage frame. Dimens...

Category

1740s English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Prints of Parrots with Decoupage Frames

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H 16.25 in W 13.5 in D 1.25 in

George Edwards Prints of Parrots with Decoupage Frames

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards prints of parrots with decoupage frames, The Engraver Georg Dionysius Ehret, Circa 1745-50 The George Edwards engravings of twelve...

Category

1740s English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Engravings of Birds, Set of Twelve, circa 1740-1760

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H 16 in W 14 in D 1 in

George Edwards Engravings of Birds, Set of Twelve, circa 1740-1760

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards engravings of birds, Set of twelve, circa 1740-1760. Twelve different bird engravings within handmade decoupage frames with original hand colouring. The follow...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Set of Twelve Engravings of Birds, circa 1740-1760

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H 16.38 in W 13.32 in D 1.13 in

George Edwards Set of Twelve Engravings of Birds, circa 1740-1760

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards Engravings of Birds, Set of Twelve, circa 1740-1760. from A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, and of some other Rare and Undescribed Animals, Quadrapeds, Repti...

Category

Mid-18th Century English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Set of Twelve Bird Engravings, circa 1740

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H 16.32 in W 13.53 in D 1.13 in

George Edwards Set of Twelve Bird Engravings, circa 1740

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards set of twelve bird engravings, within modern decoupage frames, from a natural history of uncommon birds, circa 1740. Dimensions: 16 3/8 inches high x 13 5/8 inch...

Category

1730s English Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards Hand-Colored Set of 12 Engravings of Parrots, 1743-1764

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H 16.38 in W 13.32 in D 1.13 in

George Edwards Hand-Colored Set of 12 Engravings of Parrots, 1743-1764

By George Edwards

Located in Downingtown, PA

George Edwards hand-colored set of 12 engravings of parrots, Natural history studies of birds. From a natural history of uncommon birds, and o...

Category

Mid-18th Century Great Britain (UK) Georgian Antique George Edwards Prints

Materials

Paper

George Edwards prints for sale on 1stDibs.

George Edwards prints are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of George Edwards prints, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original prints by George Edwards were created in the Georgian style in united kingdom during the 18th century and earlier. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider prints by Samuel Howitt, george brookshaw, and Thomas Rowlandson. Prices for George Edwards prints can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,500 and can go as high as $28,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $15,250.