This brilliant hand-colored copper engraving depicts a nutcracker perched upon a branch. Prideaux John Selby, a contemporary of John James Audubon, composed his illustrations of birds in natural settings with scientific accuracy. Like Audubon, his images are life-sized, and there are other interesting parallels between the two men's work; both collaborated with the Scottish engraver W.H. Lizars, and both of their works were printed on elephant folio Whatman paper. Selby distinguished himself, however, by engraving many of the plates for his large folio set himself. His work was first published between 1821 and 1834. It was very popular and went through a number of additional editions.

References: cf. Sitwell, p. 141.

Condition: A

Full contemporary color on a sheet with a "J. Whatman 1864" watermark. There is light soiling that is almost entirely confined to the margins and some short edge tears, all well away from engraved image. Remnants of hinge tape on verso.