RARE FIRST EDITION OF LEAR'S STUDY OF PARROTS COULD FETCH £60,000 AT AUCTION

Lear's study of a long-billed parakeet

THE deadline is looming for bids on the sale of a rare first edition of artist Edward Lear's first work - Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots.

Only 175 copies were printed between 1830 and 1832.

This copy is going under the hammer in an online auction of rare books and manuscripts which ends on July 30.

Says the auction catalogue: "This was the first English ornithological work published in folio format with lithographic plates; the first English illustrated monograph on a single species of bird; and the only separate work on birds published by Lear (1812-1888). 

"It was originally intended to be issued in 14 parts, but due to lack of finance, publication ceased after the twelfth and another artist, John Gould, bought all the remaining stock.

"Lear destroyed the lithographic stones after the parts were published in order to protect his 125 subscribers."

The catalogue continues: "Lear began this work at the age of 18 and carefully supervised every step of the publication. 

"He made many of his original sketches from the live specimens at the Regent's Park Zoological Gardens, and then prepared numerous preliminary lithographs."

The sale is being held by Christies who expect this work to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.