A classic of xylographic illustration
HOUGHTON, William. British Fresh-Water Fishes. London: William MacKenzie. [1879].
Two vols, folio. Original brick-red cloth, blocked in gilt and black with piscatorial emblems, top edges gilt; pp. I: xvi, 92; II: [5], 94-204; with 41 fine xylographed plates of fishes by A.F. Lydon after Benjamin Fawcett, coloured from woodblocks and finished by hand, text illustrations; a little scuffing to rear board of vol 1, very good.
First edition.
This work features beautiful plates produced through a process known as xylography. This process was the particular speciality of A.F. Lydon who went on to illustrate William Greene's Parrots in Captivity and David Wooster's Alpine Plants, amongst others. This work could not have been more generously produced, with its lavish backgrounds to the river banks, and the substantial and detailed illustrations.
Westwood & Satchell (supplement) p. 11; Nissen ZBI 2009.
#2120494