Albin Sand or Bank Martin, Hirundo agrestis
9 by 11 1/4 inches
EAL128 $225
This is the 1st English edition of The Natural History of Birds, the rarest and most highly prized of Eleazar Albin's works as it was hand colored entirely by Albin and his daughter, Elizabeth. There were only 89 sets published and it was a monumental undertaking seen only a few times in the history of natural history works.
Albin was a German professional painter who settled in England in 1707, where he married and raised a family, changing his name from Weiss to Albin. His work on birds was done late in his life & was the first large English work on ornithology.
In Albin's notes to the reader he states "As for the paintings, they are all done from the life, with all the Exactness I could either with my own hand, or my daughters, whom I have taught to draw and paint after the life." As was the custom with many other works of the day, it was sold by subscription. Ref: Dictionary of Bird Artist, p132.
Each print has wonderful copperplate style descriptions on creamy paper, strong and chain-lined, with some watermarks. There is little foxing, but some toning of the paper and some slight offset.
The hand coloring is exactly as the master wished, since he did it himself, some 250 years old, and it could not be more exceptional to know that each print has been touched by his hand, or his daughters’. Popular from the initial publication, attracting almost 100 subscribers, it is no less beloved today. There is an endearing & engaging quality to these illustrations that resemble the folk art of later times and we are delighted to offer this rare treasure to our buyers.
