George Edwards, English, 1694 to 1773, two folio hand colored copper plate etchings, Manakin, Small Birds, and Humming Birds from Surinam from A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Each etching is inscribed, numbered 32 and 260, in the plate lower to the center. Framed. George Edwards FRS was an English naturalist and ornithologist, known as the father of British ornithology. Over a period of 21 years, Edwards published seven volumes containing descriptions and hand coloured etchings of birds. In a few cases, he depicted other animals. None of the species were native to the British Isles. The first four volumes were published between 1743 and 1751 with the title A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. The three subsequent volumes were published between 1758 and 1764 with the title Gleanings Of Natural History. The volumes contain a total of 362 hand coloured etchings of which 317 depict birds. The etchings were all drawn by Edwards. He numbered the plates consecutively through the seven volumes. Antique English British Graphic Art Prints and Collectibles.