Benjamin Fawcett - 1855 Wood Engraving Capercaillie

Sold
SKU:
mj103
The Sulis Promise
Certificate of Authenticity · 30 Day Returns · Safe Arrival Guarantee Read more

Description

Benjamin Fawcett - Original 1855 Wood Engraving. Hand coloured wood engraving. Reproduced in Beverley Morris’s “British Game Birds and Wildfowl”, published by Groombridge, 1855. Some foxing as shown in photos.

Size

Size: 22.6 x 15cm (8.9" x 5.9")

Collection Information

Benjamin Fawcett (1808-1893) was one of the finest of English nineteenth century woodblock colour printers. The son of a ship's master, he was apprenticed at age 14 for seven years to William Forth, a Bridlington bookseller and printer. In 1831 he started his own business in Middle Street, Driffield, as music seller, bookbinder and printer, bookseller and stationer.

His early works were mostly children's books published by Webb & Millington of Leeds. In about 1845 he formed a close working association with Francis Orpen Morris. This relationship would last nearly 50 years and have a profound effect on British ornithology.

Fellow engraver, W.D. Ridley wrote: "Benjamin Fawcett was undoubtedly a born genius in the best sense of the word… If there was a secret which produced the fine results it would have been... Benjamin Fawcett engraving every one of the three hundred and sixty plates for this work on wood with his own hand ... making the inks himself from the costliest powders and the most expensive varnishes procurable....and each specimen plate for the colourers painted by his wife. This, I believe, is an achievement without parallel in book production. The very best materials were used."

See More Like This

For our full collection of these click here

More Information
SKU mj103
Artist Benjamin Fawcett
Date 1855
Dimensions 22.6 x 15cm
Medium Wood Engraving
Item Returns This item can be returned

Delivery prices for this item are as follows

Remember - we combine shipping costs for multiple purchases automatically so go through to checkout for the final price.

All of our items come with
a Certificate of Authenticity

Read more