Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) is best known for his excellent nonsensical limericks, but he was also an accomplished artist who published books of illustrations documenting his travels. Indeed, his first career was as an "ornithological draughtsman" for the Zoological Society and then the Earl of Derby. His first book, "Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrot," was published in 1830 when Lear was just 19. Harvard University holds a collection of Lear's preliminary sketches and lithos from that period and Bibliography has posted a selection of the lovely drawings.
"Lear's Parrots - The Prequel" (Thanks, Will Schofield!)
(Via Boing Boing.)
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