The Parrots(italics) illustrated by Edward Lear, with essays by Francesco Solinas, Rainer Willmann and Sophia Willmann (Taschen June 2009.)

Reviewed by Annie Kelly

Perhaps not everyone loves parrots as much as I do, but if you are fascinated by these beautifully colored birds with more personality than they (strictly speaking) will ever need, then Edward Lear’s illustrated book of parrots is a must-have. Taschen have really outdone themselves this time;The Parrots(italics) by Francesco Solinas, Rainer Willmann and Sophia Willmann is a stunning book.

It isn't even really a book, rather a collection of loose plates drawn by poet Edward Lear when he was twenty years old and before failing eyesight led him to concentrate on his writing. The Parrots(italics) comes in a nearly 20"x13" box with 42 beautifully reproduced plates and a bound introduction consisting of essays by Francesco Solinas, Rainer Willmann, and Sophia Willmann. Solinas describes the young illustrator as " Born in Halloway, near London, Edward Lear (1812-1888) was the twentieth child of an upper-class English family. His father, Jeremiah, a successful stockbroker, suffered financial ruin shortly after Edward's birth." This not unsurprising turn of events meant that the illustrator had to earn a living as soon as possible and was largely educated by his older sisters.

Happily his huge talent as an illustrator gave him plenty of work for the London Zoological Society who employed him when he was still a young teenager, and this book on parrots became his first solo project. Published in 1832, it broke new ground stylistically, and established the young Lear as an important zoologist, illustrator, and naturalist. Thanks to an annuity from Lord Edward Smith-Stanley – a collector of rare birds and animals – Lear spent the rest of his life travelling and documenting his journeys. The introduction continues with a brief zoological introduction and written descriptions of each bird.

When you open the box, the first plates are of the big glamorous parrots, like the impressive Salmon-crested Cockatoo from the southern Molucca Islands, and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo from Australia which makes a deafening racket when screeching flocks of these birds sweep across the sky. Then, page by page, the sizes of the birds scale down; we see bright Australian Rosellas, the cheerful Cockatiel, and finally the tiny five-inch Lovebird splendid in his black collar and red tail feathers. Lear wanted to document every type of parrot, but was restricted to what was available – both alive and stuffed – at the Regents Park Zoo which had conveniently just opened in 1828, Solinas writes that "The Parots (italics) one of the first monographs of 'natural' images dedicated to different parrot species in the history of scientific illustration." They were originally distributed as a limited edition of only 175, so this may be your first opportunity to own a copy of this famous folio of lithographs.

Are they ready for framing? Well, Taschen practically include the frames – well, not quite, but you get the idea. I would frame them in groups: big birds, medium sized ones, and small. You could cover a wall with them or do an entire room – which would be stunning.