Crowned Eagle in all his finery - and talons, c1808.

by Shaw, George

Falco coronatus, Brown Eagle antique print. Superior being with great character! Brown-breasted with variegated black and white.

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 (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 books.

This illustration is in fine condition. Page size 215 x 130mm ( 8.5 x 5 inches). Very age-discoloured text page is available with offsetting of the illustration from the facing page, as usual thinner, poorer quality paper used for text page.