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DS2004-0281; map
"Edwards's and Albin's Originals", 95 drawings or prints on 92 leaves.
DS2004-0281; map

"Edwards's and Albin's Originals", 95 drawings or prints on 92 leaves.

Date1760-1770
Maker George Edwards (1694 - 1773)
Maker Eleazar Albin
OriginEngland
MediumWatercolor, pencil and ink on laid paper. Contemporary half calf, pine in six compartments with raised bands, red morocco lettering-piece in the second, the others tooled in gilt.
Dimensions11 3/4" x 9 3/8"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2004-16
DescriptionAlbum containing 95 drawings or prints on 92 leaves; contemporary half calf, spine in six compartments with raised bands, red morocco lettering-piece in the second, the others tooled in gilt. This unique album mostly contains drawings and etched prints by George Edwards, a well-known eighteenth-century natural history artist, and naturalist and watercolor painter, Eleazar Albin. It is a rare assemblage, providing insight into the way that Edwards worked, including how his watercolors were adapted to etchings on copper. The collection contains an assortment of proof prints, counter-proofs, and hand-colored counter-proofs. Counter-proofs, or artist's test prints, were usually discarded. The survival of these etchings is rare, the inclusion of these works together with finished copies in one album is ever rare. Moreover, the album contains manuscript notations written by the artist that accompany many of the plates.
Label TextMost of the 95 illustrations compiled in this album were drawn or etched by the father of British ornithology, George Edwards. The numerous manuscript notations provide tremendous insight into the study of natural history during the 18th century. Below his counterproof of four koi, Edwards wrote, “Fishes were drawn from what was most remarkable and different in a jar of about 30 at Duke Richmond’s. Converse print colourd, which comes much nearer a drawing then a first print, that being too black.” This survival of artist proofs is uncommon, and to have them assembled into a collected album like this one is even more so.

InscribedEarly 19th century pasted note on front that reads: "Edwards & Albin from Dr. Latham's Library;" presumably from the collection of John Latham (1740-1837), a well-known nineteenth-century naturalist and collector.
ProvenanceThis unique album mostly contains drawings and etched prints by George Edwards, a well-known eighteenth-century natural history artist, and naturalist and watercolor painter, Eleazar Albin. It is a rare assemblage, providing insight into the way that Edwards worked, including how his watercolors were adapted to etchings on copper. The collection contains an assortment of proof prints, counter-proofs, and hand-colored counter-proofs. Counter-proofs, or artist's test prints, were usually discarded. The survival of these etchings is rare, the inclusion of these works together with finished copies in one album is ever rare. Moreover, the album contains manuscript notations written by the artist that accompany many of the plates.