Images(3)

Letter

DateApril 3, 1765

Maker George Edwards (1694 - 1773)

OriginEngland, London

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOH: 9" OW: 15 1/8" Letter H: 15 1/4" Letter W: 9 1/2" Drawing H: 14 1/4" Drawing W: 8 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2013-102,A-C

DescriptionLetter by George Edwards to the Earl of Bute with engraved print of Chinese pheasant; dated 3 April 1765

A) Letter
B) Envelope
C) Print

Label TextIn this letter to the Earl of Bute, George Edwards described the improvements that he made to his copy of Catesby’s Natural History. He stated, “I being intimate with Catesbey while he was publishing his history of Carolina he indulged me with the use of his Original Drawings to Colour a Sett of his prints after for myself which I have finished and brought them up eaqual to the originals so that it may Safely be pronounced Infinitely the best Coppy now in being.” In an effort to seek the patronage of the Earl of Bute, Edwards offered to trade his copy of Catesby’s work for the set owned by Bute.

Edwards also described the process he used to make counterproofs from the prints he etched in his History of Uncommon Birds: “In the course of My Labours I have taken of reversed Prints of my history of birds on Sett as a Curiosity and have Colourd them higer than ordinary to make them appear Somtings like Drawings, they have deceive som people in that respect they having no marks of the copper Plates.”