Folio Archives 286: Birds Drawn for John Gould by Edward Lear LIMITED EDITION 2012

Illustrations of Birds Drawn for John Gould by Edward Lear LIMITED EDITION 2012

THIS is the most gloriously magnificent book ever published by the Folio Society. If you doubt my humble opinion, just cast your eyes upon the pictures below to be entranced and amazed.

Between 1832 (when he was 20 years old) and 1838, Edward Lear was commissioned by the naturalist John Gould to paint 80 bird portraits. The works were reproduced by lithography and coloured by hand. Many, including David Attenborough, believe they are the world’s finest bird portraits. Attenborough collected a full set of the 80 paintings, and it his collection that is reproduced here in facsimile.

Signed and introduced by David Attenborough, this 184 page large format book is bound in dark blue full goatskin with elaborate and extensive gold blocking. It is enclosed in a dark blue and gilt titled solander box with a leather spine label that measures an impressive 59.5x47.3x6.5cm. and encloses a loose print of the Eagle Owl. The book has 80 beautiful coloured lithographs by Edward Lear, the limitation label is printed letterpress, has shuffled page edges and a gilded top page edge. The end papers are marbled by the incomparable Jemma Lewis. When released by the Folio Society it cost £895 and was limited to 780 copies.

As befitting this extraordinary facsimile, there are a lot of pictures below, so sit back, enjoy and covet obtaining a copy. They are very hard to find on the secondary market.

































































































































































Enclosed extra print in a paper envelope








The brochure promoting this book on release can be seen here.

A supporting promotional leaflet can be seen here.

An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.

And a YouTube video of Joe Whitlock Blundell - former Production Director of The Folio Society, in conversation with Sir David Attenborough as he inspects his lettered copy (no. C). And the marbled endpapers are a 'Turkish Spot' design ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBdhm8aQCPw

My favourite folio edition, by a sizeable margin.

>1 wcarter: Your humble opinion is absolutely right. Absolutely magnificent and your pictures as usual really show it.

>1 wcarter: I'm afraid that you are wrong about one thing - the book is definitely not printed letterpress (apart from the "label").

>1 wcarter:

And wrong that it's hard to find on the secondary market, in the sense that Ardis has one at present - but it is hard to pay for, as it's quoted at over £5000. I'm thinking of transferring mine to a bank vault. More seriously, that sort of pricing makes me twitch about my insurance policy.

Edited to add my thanks fpr a brilliant photo review.

Many thanks for your wonderful review. I agree with your assessment. It's definitely a favorite in my collection. As >5 originaux: says, it's not letterpress. The binding appears black to me, but I thought I'd seen it described officially somewhere as dark green, rather than dark blue. The book is so large, two goatskins were needed for each binding!

For newer members, or rather, customers, it’s the books like this from not-so-very-long ago that we have in mind when comparing to and griping about the most recent LEs. I had always hoped that this edition would be followed up with Lear’s Parrots in a similar binding, but it was never to be.
Edit: It’s now going for £5k asking price?!? That may be optimistic, but who knows these days? One could buy at least one of the better original prints for that!

>5 originaux: >7 kronnevik:
I got carried away by describing it as letterpress when it is only the limitation label that is printed that way. Original entry corrected.