144 Mr. Atkinson's Sketch of the late T. Bewick. 



" A copy of Bewick's Quadrupeds, printed on Whatman's fine wove 

 Atlas vellum paper, on which only two copies were printed ; new, in 

 boards, £1, I65." 



" Another copy, the cuts only (above 130) taken off upon strong 

 writing paper, music 4to. size, one on a leaf, for colouring, well half- 

 bound, 5s." 



" Another copy, the cuts only, proof impressions, on wove demi pa- 

 per ; two, three, and four of the animals on a leaf, and interleaved with 

 writing paper ; new, half-bound, a unique book, £1. 10*. 6c?." 



One of the most curious and valuable copies of the Birds, is in pos- 

 session of Mr. Richard R. Wingate, of Percy Street, a man of most 

 accurate observation on subjects of Natural History, but especially 

 Ornithology, his intimate acquaintance with which has enabled him to 

 add a new species of Swan to the list of British Birds, which, though 

 comparatively plentiful, and contained in two or three museums, had 

 escaped the observation of naturalists : he was an old and esteemed 

 friend of Bewick's, and I am indebted to him for many of the circum- 

 stances related of him . 



This copy consists of a set of light impressions (many of them proofs) 

 taken by Mr. Bewick's leave, under Mr. Wingate's own direction ; as a 

 bird-stuffer, and through the author's kindness, all the birds from which 

 the blocks were engraved passed through his hands, and from these 

 very specimens, he coloured with the most scrupulous fidelity, as if he 

 was on his oath (as Bewick observed), the impressions abovementioned. 

 Bewick was highly pleased with the manner in which they were done, 

 and wrote to him a letter expressive of it.* Mr. Beilby also took some 



• * Dear Richard, 



Some little time ago, I examined with attention your coloured impres- 

 sions of " British Birds," on which, in roy opinion, you have bestowed great pains and 

 labour — not in vain, for I think there is in them a fidelity and a nearer approach to truth 

 and nature, than any things of the kind I ever saw. 



■ I hope you will continue to finish the rest in the same excellent way, and that your 

 Books, which I think will be deemed unique, and rise in value in proportion to their singu- 

 larity, will, at length, reward you for your meritorious skill in making them so complete. 



I am (with best wishes), Your's, &c. 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



