American Merlin. Northern Hemisphere Pigeon Hawk antique print c1808

by Shaw, George

Antique engraving with descriptive text as published c1808.

Original copperplate engraving by Shaw's principal engraver, Mrs M. Griffiths, for Zoological Lectures at the Royal Institution by George Shaw, published by George Kearsley in London c1808 (with later hand-colour).

George Shaw (1751-1813) qualified as a doctor in 1772, but changed careers in1786 to become assistant lecturer in Botany at Oxford University. Co-founding the Linnaean Society in 1788, Shaw was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1789. Assistant Keeper of the Zoological Department at the British Museum from 1791 and Keeper from 1807, Shaw gave lectures at the Royal Institution and wrote natural history publications.

Page size 215mm x 130mm ( 8.5inches x 5inches). The illustration is full of character but the paper was slightly stretched during printing from the engraving plate (hence the price-reduction). Poorer quality paper was traditionally used for text. The facing page with text is available - quite age-discoloured, with offset image of the engraving from the facing page.