George Edwards Water Birds-18th Century Engravings. It was decided to publish editions in other languages than English. Authored by Edwards and published by Dr. Johann Seligmann from 1747-1776. The decorative antique prints of birds are nearly 250 years old. Hand colored engravings on laid rag paper.
George Edwards waterbirds from his Nuremberg, Germany edition entitled “Sammlung Verschiedener Auslandischer un Seltener Vogel.” The series of books published c.1747-1776. This series included decorative script with the Latin names of the birds, French and German too. The paper is in excellent condition. Matted to 14×18″ or as large as 16×20″ for modern application. Each of the 250 year old hand colored copper plate engravings, measures 10 1/4 x 17″ paper size. Call Anne to place your order at 413-245-4197 or email: oldprint@verizon.net.
These antique engravings of water birds, were published in Amsterdam by Geo, Edwards & Dr. Johann Seligmann, from 1771 through 1776. George Edwards birds are full of life with lots of charm and character conveyed through the depiction. Dutch water colored by hand, copper plate engravings, that were printed onto hand made, laid rag in the late eighteenth century. A laborious craft of all those involved.
Paper was hard to acquire in the 18th century. Furthermore an engraver would have to re-engrave another plate after 300 strikes, if there was high demand. The water colorists would die at young ages, due to toxins in the paints. How do these antique prints by George Edwards exist today? Proper storage and mostly due to the quality of the paper which was struck by the printing press. Paper was made of rag right up through the turn of the 20th century. Made from linen, flax and literally rags (not trees) there was no acid in the paper. Paper coming from trees during the 20th and 21st centuries is highly acidic and does not last for long.
Each one of these hand colored copper plate engravings, measures 10 1/4 x 17″. There are a couple of ones with slightly smaller paper, measuring at 9 1/2 x 15 1/2″. All of the platemarks are uniform in size. I generally frame antique prints like this to 14×18 or 16×20″ plus the picture frame. Click here to contact us.
It was a laborious craft for of all those involved in producing something like these antique prints by George Edwards. First one had to find and identify the species. Second the illustrations had to be meticulously drawn, with the best accuracy. The image would be transferred onto a copper plate and engraved with burins. The paper was hard to acquire, and the engraver would have to re engrave another plate after just 300 strikes. The water colorists would die at young ages, due to licking tips of their paint brushes. Yet these old prints still exist in super fine condition and exemplary condition. That is mostly due to the quality of the rag paper. Paper was made of rag right up through the turn of the 20th Century. Coming from linen, flax, etc, NOT TREES, there was no acid in the paper. Very expensive to acquire, inconsistent, etc. TODAY Paper is made from trees, and was during the 20th Century, is highly acidic and does not last for long.
The history of printing is a fascinating subject. People had life long trades of professional crafts during the 17th, 18th, and even during the 19th Centuries. Paper making, hand made rag papers, wove rag papers, all employed prior to making paper from trees as we do today. Antique printing methods include copper plate engraving, steel plate engraving, wood engravings. Lithographs and chromolithographs. Illumination by Hand Coloring, using water colors, and printing in colors by limestone plates. That doesn’t even take into account obtaining or creating the illustrations, producing the documentation and text…
The gallery above consists of George Edwards 18th Century engravings of water birds. A combined work from 1770 of George Edwards and Dr. Johann Seligmann, publisher. The decorative antique prints published from 1747-1776. The hand colored copper plate engravings are on laid rag.
To discuss your project and consider additional options, call 413-245-4197 or email us at: anne@annehallantiqueprints.com. Thank you for visiting!
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