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This page lists books that include bird illustrations by Edward Lear.

The books are ordered by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

The Parrots: The Complete Plates

Francesco Solinas and Willmann Solphia

Illustrations: Edward Lear

2009

"This title features breathtaking birds. It includes Edward Lear's incomparable parrots. Completed in 1832 when he was just 20, Edward Lear's set of 42 hand-colored lithographs entitled Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots comprise one of the first collections entirely dedicated to parrots in the history of scientific illustration; they include different African, Australian, and American species bred by the collection's subscribers, amongst whom were the artist's patrons Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby, two eminent ornithologists and naturalists who sustained the artist, and inspired and directed his work. Unlike other avian illustrators who often worked with stuffed birds, the young and prodigiously talented Lear (1812-1888) made his drawings from live parrots, which allowed him to capture their expressions and produce remarkably lifelike illustrations. The youthful freshness, and the new medium of hand-colored lithography determined the originality and the immediate elegance of Lear's work. The impressive collection was reproduced in only 175 precious sets and was sold by subscription to Britain's most eminent scholars and wealthy collectors of living parrots. The Psittacidae successfully inaugurated Edward Lear's long and brilliant career as a celebrated illustrator and painter, professor of drawing to young Queen Victoria, traveller, and witty writer (he is also known for popularizing the limerick). With a brief zoological introduction and written 'portraits' of each bird by Sophia Willmann, Taschen's painstaking reprint brings Lear's parrots back to life for all to admire."

Feather and Brush: 300 Years of Australian Bird Art

Penny Olsen

2001

"This volume traces the 300-year history of bird art in Australia, from the crudely illustrated records of the earliest European voyages of discovery to the diversity of artwork available at the start of the 21st century. It is a history inseparable from the development of Australian ornithology. Against a background of establishment of the country itself, naval draftsmen, convicts, officers, settlers, naturalists, artists and scientists alike contributed both to the art and to science. Driven by the excitement of discovery and description of new and exotic birds, the illustration of Australian birds flourished in the late 18th and 19th centuries, then fell into neglect. In recent decades, increasing interest in the environment has led to a revitalization of the art. A wealth of contemporary Australian artists has tuned their attention to birds and never before has wildlife illustration been so varied and accessible. There are over 250 images representing 94 artists in the book. Some are well-known, others are published for the first time. All have been selected for their merit, be it ornithological, historical or artistic. The book links the greats of yesterday - including Ferdinand Bauer, Edward Lear, George Raper, John Lewin, the Goulds and the mysterious Port Jackson Painter - with some of the finest wildlife artists working in Australia today, many with an intimate knowledge of the birds in the field."

The Family of Parrots

Edward Lear

1997

"This beautiful volume reproduces in all their glory the 42 plates from the original Parrots."

Owls

John Gould, Edward Lear, Archibald Thorburn, John James Audubon and Alexander Wilson

1991

A selection of illustrations of owls by five of the most famous bird artists from the archive of the Natural History Museum in London. The artists represented are John Gould, Edward Lear, Alexander Wilson, John James Audubon and Archibald Thorburn.

Classic Natural History Prints: Birds

S. Peter Dance

1990

"This is the first volume in a series of selections of natural history prints from around the world and celebrates the achievements of bird artists over two centuries. The 60 plates are arranged chronologically and range from Eleazar Albin's "Hoopoe", from the early 19th century, through aquatints from Audubon's "Birds of America" and Edward Lear's colourful "Parrots" some hundred years later, to the work of 20th-century artists such as Archibald Thorburn and George Lodge. The author has written many books and articles, both scientific and popular, on natural history topics."

Edward Lear's Birds

Susan Hyman

Littlehampton / Wellfleet

1980

Littlehampton edition

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Wellfleet edition

The Great Bird Illustrators And Their Art, 1730-1930

Peyton Skipwith

1979

Discusses the work of 15 artists including John Gould, John James Audubon, Mark Catesby, Edward Lear, Josef Wolf, John Guille Millais, Archibald Thorburn. 176 pages with 75 full page colour illustrations.

Bird Illustrators: Some Artists in Early Lithography

C.E. Jackson

1975

Includes chapters on: illustrators: William Swainson, Edward Lear, John Gould, Henry Leonard Meyer, Josef Wolf, Joseph Smit, John Gerrard Keulemans, Edward Neale, William Foster, Claude Wilmott Wyatt, Frederick William Frohawk, Henrik Grönvold, Archibald Thorburn, and George Edward Lodge.

Edward Lear's Parrots

Brian Reade

1949

A 32 page book that includes 12 colour plates of Edward Lear's parrot lithographs.

A Monograph of the Ramphastidae or Family of Toucans

John Gould

Unacknowledged contribution to colour plates: Edward Lear, Elizabeth Gould

Taylor & Francis

1854

Originally published in three parts between 1833 and 1835. The original parts included 34 of the colour plates. These parts together with a supplement with a further 18 plates were published in this revised edition in 1854. All plates were newly lithographed and the text rewritten for this edition.

Sir William Jardine's Illustrations Of The Duck Tribe

Sir William Jardine

Privately printed by the author

1840?

A Monograph On The Anatidae, Or Duck Tribe

T.C. Eyton

Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longman

1838

From the preface: "In preparing the following work, the chief aim of the Author has been not the invention of new species, but the establishment of old ones, in which he flatters himself he has succeeded. Very few synonyms of the older authors on Ornithology not having been reconciled, the chief part of those that remain (with the exception of Forskall, of whose descriptions we cannot make any thing) may be placed to the score of varieties. The list of synonyms, he is perfectly aware, might have been increased to a much greater extent, but this would have much extended the work, and not, he conceives, have answered any good purpose. Many new species are also for the first time described : for the unlimited use of the specimens lately brought home by him from South Africa, and now exhibiting at Egyptian Hall, the author takes this opportunity of thanking Dr. Andrew Smith, who will shortly publish plates of the new species of that valuable collection in this and the other classes. His warmest thanks also are due to the gentlemen in charge of the National Collection, and to the Council and Curators of the Zoological Society, for the facilities afforded him in examining their respective collections. To the Earl of Derby, Charles Darwin, Esq. William Yarrell, Esq. and also to the author of that beautiful work the "Birds of Europe," he is much indebted for access to their notes and specimens. In the course of the work anatomical characters have for the first time been used for families, sub-families, and genera, where the author considered he had sufficient grounds to establish them ; but as the number of specimens of foreign anatkke he has been enabled to obtain in a fit state for dissection has necessarily been very limited, he earnestly requests the assistance of those gentlemen who have it in their power towards this important branch, in forwarding to him foreign specimens for dissection, recent or preserved in spirits or brine, which he shall always think well worth carriage from any distance."

The Natural History Of Parrots

Prideaux John Selby

Naturalist’s Library, Volume VI

W.H. Lizars

1836

Opening lines:

"In presenting to our readers a volume containing the natural history of the Parrots, or family Psittacidae, we have to direct their attention to an assemblage of birds, not less remarkable for the peculiarity of their form, the gay varied, and in many instances, splendid plumage in which they are attired, than for the intelligence and docility so many evince in a state of captivity or domestication, and the peculiar facility possessed by several species of imitating the intonations of the human voice, and learning by rote words, and even sentences, which they remember and repeat with clearness and precision."

The Natural History Of Pigeons

Prideaux John Selby

Naturalist’s Library, Volume IX

W.H. Lizars

1835

Opening lines:

"The Pigeons, or family of the Columbidae, which furnish the materials for the present volume, are now, in accordance with their true affinities, admitted into the order of the Rasores, or Gallinaceous Birds, of which they form one of the five groups or divisions, the other four being represented by the Pavonidae, Tetraonidae, Struthionidae and Tetraonidae."

Illustrations of the Family of the Psittacidae, or Parrots

Edward Lear

1832

42 lithographic plates by Edward Lear bound in a single volume.

Illustrations of Ornithology, Vol. 2

Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby

1826

Includes illustrations by Prideaux Selby, Edward Lear and R. Mitford

Illustrations of Ornithology, Vol. 1

Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby

1826

Includes illustrations by Prideaux Selby, Edward Lear and R. Mitford