Thomas Bewick, A history of British birds, Longman and Rees, London, 1804-1805

These two works by Thomas Bewick, the first volume of which was initially published in 1797, are among the first field guides for novices. The literary and poetic texts are enhanced with illustrations from superb wood engravings made by the author. Several contemporary Romantic authors such as Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) or William Wordsworth (1870-1850) refer to Bewick’s work.