A set of three hand engravings of shells from Illustrations of the Conchology of Great Britain and Ireland. These were drawn by Captain Thomas Brown and engraved by J. Turvey circa 1820s. They were professionally framed in a brown frame with gold accents. The drawings are made in various tones of natural brown. This is a perfect touch for lake or seaside cabins and coastal décor.
Each measures 13" wide and 17.5" tall, 1" deep.
In very good vintage condition. Some wear and tear expected with age and use.
Thomas Brown was a British naturalist and malacologist. He gained the title of captain in 1811, after rising through the ranks of the Forfar and Kincardine Militia, which he joined at the age of 21. Brown created paintings for the first European edition of Wilson's American Ornithology and edited Oliver Goldsmith's History of the Earth and Animated Nature, In 1838, he became a curator of the Manchester Natural History Society's Museum and was later elected fellow of the Linnean Society and president of the Royal Physical Society. He wrote a number of natural history books which he also illustrated. "Every shell, as far as possible, has been drawn from Nature, and generally from the largest and most beautiful specimens which the author could meet with" (Preface).