A General History of Quadrupeds contains a one-page autograph letter from Thomas Bewick, dated "Newcastle, 20 Jany. 1806", stating: "Gentlemen ... I have now 183 sets (1st & 2nd Vols) and 24 single Books of the 2d. Volume of the Birds, Demy, on hand -- I name this least you may want a supply of this kind, before they are all gone -- I have also a few of the thick & thin Royals of the first edition ... The Imperial & Royal of the 2d. edition in sets complete (2 Volumes) are now finished at press, but Mr Walker (printer) informs me that it will be about two months before he can get the sheets properly smooth pressed -- with these, when ready, I shall be glad to supply your wants -- not having heard from you on the subject of the Engraving on Wood, mentioned to me sometime ago -- I suspect that you may have dropped the intention of publishing your intended work - I am, Gentlemen, your most obedt. Thomas Bewick."
Provenance: The first volume of A History of British Birds is signed and dated 1807 by Dawson Turner and inscribed by him: "This set was selected for me by Mr Bewick himself, when he passed thru' Newcastle this summer. D.T." Dawson Turner (1775-1858) was a botanist and antiquary, fellow of The Linnaen and The Royal Societies, author of Synopsis of the British Fuci (1802) and other books as well as numerous contributions to English Botany and the Transactions of the Linnaen Society. Most of his library of nearly 8,000 volumes was sold at auction in 1853 (see DNB).
Also included in the lot is a copy of Bewick's My Life (Folio Society, 1981).