Beaver, Musk Rat, Mouse, Hamster, Mole antique print.

by Edwards, Sydenham

Mammals: Glires. Genus Castor, Genus Mus, Rat c1810. Quadrupeds. Class Mammalia.

Original copperplate engraving c1808 by J. Scott after the drawing by Welsh natural history artist, Sydenham Edwards (1768-1819) for The Cyclopaedia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature by Abraham Rees, published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown at Paternoster Row in London.

After spending many years revising Chamber’s Cyclopaedia, Presbyterian minister and scholar, Abraham Rees (1743-1825) commissioned foremost artists and scientists in each field for his own encyclopedia. Issued in parts, it finally encompassed 39 volumes of text, and 6 volumes of plates, including natural history. The illustrations were printed from engraved plates onto thick, hand-made ‘wove’ paper. Longman and Rees began publishing in 1802. During the many years of this undertaking there were different partnerships of publishers.

With wonderful later hand-colour, the page size is 26.5 x 20.5cm (approximately 10 1/2 x 8 inches).