Folio Archives 354: Sharpe's Birds of Paradise by Richard Bowdler Sharpe – LIMITED EDITION 2011
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Sharpe's Birds of Paradise by Richard Bowdler Sharpe – LIMITED EDITION 2011
In 2011 The Folio Society printed a superb facsimile of all 79 plates in Sharpe’s Birds of Paradise at their actual size. The paintings in this facsimile are extraordinary for their detail and colour and a delight to page through, and I pull this huge book from the shelves every few months to just contemplate the artwork. It is sometimes hard to believe that these birds actually exist in New Guinea and Australia, and are not some figment of the artist’s imagination.
The facsimile volume is introduced and signed by David Attenborough. Each pate is printed on the recto while the verso of each page remains blank. It is quarter-bound in dark green goatskin leather with canvas cloth sides blocked on the cover in colour with a design by Neil Gower and has a gilt blocked title on the spine. It has gilded page tops, plain green endpapers and a dark green silk ribbon page marker. The dark green slipcase measures a massive 56.2x38cm. and is gilt blocked with a scroll and title on the front.
The plates are housed in one volume, while in a much smaller commentary volume is Sharpe’s original text, which is both descriptive and technical, and designed to be consulted only if you really want to know more about a particular bird. This volume is introduced by Erroll Fuller, is unillustrated and has 292 pages. It is bound in dark green canvas with an inset title label and gilt spine title. It is housed in a separate green slipcase that measures 24.9x16.9cm.
The limitation was 1000 copies and mine is number 889.
This Folio Society edition originally sold for £495 but now sells for significantly higher prices on the secondary market.
FACSIMILE VOLUME
COMMENTARY VOLUME
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
In 2011 The Folio Society printed a superb facsimile of all 79 plates in Sharpe’s Birds of Paradise at their actual size. The paintings in this facsimile are extraordinary for their detail and colour and a delight to page through, and I pull this huge book from the shelves every few months to just contemplate the artwork. It is sometimes hard to believe that these birds actually exist in New Guinea and Australia, and are not some figment of the artist’s imagination.
The facsimile volume is introduced and signed by David Attenborough. Each pate is printed on the recto while the verso of each page remains blank. It is quarter-bound in dark green goatskin leather with canvas cloth sides blocked on the cover in colour with a design by Neil Gower and has a gilt blocked title on the spine. It has gilded page tops, plain green endpapers and a dark green silk ribbon page marker. The dark green slipcase measures a massive 56.2x38cm. and is gilt blocked with a scroll and title on the front.
The plates are housed in one volume, while in a much smaller commentary volume is Sharpe’s original text, which is both descriptive and technical, and designed to be consulted only if you really want to know more about a particular bird. This volume is introduced by Erroll Fuller, is unillustrated and has 292 pages. It is bound in dark green canvas with an inset title label and gilt spine title. It is housed in a separate green slipcase that measures 24.9x16.9cm.
The limitation was 1000 copies and mine is number 889.
This Folio Society edition originally sold for £495 but now sells for significantly higher prices on the secondary market.
FACSIMILE VOLUME
COMMENTARY VOLUME
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2UK_History_Fan
Great review and pictures, as always. This book takes pride of place within my Limited Edition collection. It is impossible to pick a favorite overall, but this one probably comes close to the top.
