An African Grey Parrot, an illustration for Sir William Jardine's The Naturalist's Library

A drawing for plate 10 of Jardine's Naturalist's Library, vol.XVIII in the 1843 collected edition, first published in vol.VI of Ornithology in 1836. The advertisement in vol.XVIII of the 1843 edition refers to 'The beautiful and interesting illustrations by Mr LEAR, from whose pencil they have... been taken - the drawings have all been made especially for the volume'. In a letter dated 23 January 1834, Lear makes a point of not repeating the designs he had published in his own book: 'Concerning the request you make that I would allow them [earlier designs] being copied - I have no power either to refuse or comply - since I have sold all rights in the volume to Mr Gould... Supposing Mr Gould should object to my Psittacidae being copied - I believe I may add that from possessing a vast number of sketches from living parrots I should be able to furnish you with drawings at a rather less charge than that I make for quadrupeds and present... I might also suggest that by recopying my Parrots - you diminished the chance of a hundred of my subscribers purchasing your volume, as they would prefer original figures to duplicates...' (V. Noakes, ed., Edward Lear: Selected Letters, Oxford, 1988.

For Edward Lear and his drawings of parrots see the catalogue for the sale at Christie's London, 8 November 1994, in the introduction preceeding lot 125. For further examples of Lear's drawings of parrots, see lots 125-129, in that sale. For the fullest account of Lear's bird drawings see V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, exhibition catalogue, Royal Academy, London, 1985, pp.79-91, 207-10.