Born on a tea plantation in Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), Henry was one of eleven children and was largely self-taught. At fifteen he had gained recognition as a naturalist and gifted wildlife artist and was later made Assistant in Systematic Entomology at the Colombo Museum. As a result of Henry's reputation the Ceylon Government commissioned 64 paintings from him, these were published in 1927 as Coloured Plates of the Birds of Ceylon, with a text by W.E. Wait. This publication made Henry's international reputation. Although Henry also worked in India, Africa, Australia and Britain, he is best remembered today for his book A Guide to the Birds of Ceylon, which was both written and illustrated by him and published by the Oxford University Press in 1955, it is still the standard work on the birds of Sri Lanka
George Morrison Reid Henry (1891-1983)
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George Morrison Reid Henry (1891-1983)
A Sketchbook of Bird and Plant Studies, including Studies of Montagu's Harrier, Pale Harrier, Marsh Harrier Black-Headed Oriole, Plaintive Cuckoo, Short-Eared Owl, Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater, Lady Amherst Pheasant, Ceylon Grackle and Peacock
signed and extensively inscribed; pencil and watercolour heightened with bodycolour, a few with gum arabic, on buff paper, 63 drawings, 67 leaves in all, the binding
9¾ x 9 5/8in. (246 x 244mm.)
A Sketchbook of Bird and Plant Studies, including Studies of Montagu's Harrier, Pale Harrier, Marsh Harrier Black-Headed Oriole, Plaintive Cuckoo, Short-Eared Owl, Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater, Lady Amherst Pheasant, Ceylon Grackle and Peacock
signed and extensively inscribed; pencil and watercolour heightened with bodycolour, a few with gum arabic, on buff paper, 63 drawings, 67 leaves in all, the binding
9¾ x 9 5/8in. (246 x 244mm.)