Suite of 11 watercolours.

Various sizes, cut out and stuck on 11 ff., folio, Whatman paper, some with watermark "1794"; 2 signed "J. Forbes 1796", the others not signed, ms. English and/or German captions & numbers.

Formerly bound (gilt edges). Very good condition.

Beautiful collection of birds perched on branches, carefully cut out incl. branches, fruits and sm. details as pine needles, etc. With i.a. "The magpye of Germany on a branch of the pear-tree", "The male Bulfinch... on a branch of the juniper tree", "The male butcher bird... on the dog-rose tree", "The male grosbeak... on a branch of the wild Black Cherry". "The Cherry-Thrush" and "The Rose-coloured Starling", both signed and dated, are represented in additional hand-col. foliage, 3 other pl. with additional pencil sketches. By or after James Forbes (1749-1819), prolific writer and artist; his main work "Oriental memoirs" remains a precious document on the culture, fauna and flora of India where he was resident from 1765 until 1784.