Lear (Edward).- [Gray (John Edward)] Gleanings from the Menagerie and Aviary at Knowsley Hall, 17 fine lithographed plates by J.W. Moore (one by D.W. Mitchell) after drawings by Lear, hand-coloured by Bayfield, heightened with gum arabic, some very light spotting, front free endpaper detached, original cloth with gilt lettering to upper cover, a little spotted, neatly and sympathetically rebacked, later endpapers, [Nissen ZBI 1691, IVB 392; Fine Bird Books, p.79; Anker 189], folio, Knowsley, Privately Printed, 1846.

⁂ First edition of this magnificent work, one of only 100 copies printed.

Edward Lear lived intermittently at Knowsley between 1831 and 1837, working principally on drawings of the birds and animals in the menageries maintained by Edward Smith Stanley, thirteenth Earl of Derby (Lord Stanley when he first employed Lear). Lord Derby's private zoo was one of the largest in England, occupying 170 acres and holding at his death in 1851, 1,272 birds and 345 mammals. Lear often spoke of his years at Knowsley as the happiest time of his life. He was immensely popular with the Stanley children and grandchildren, and it was to amuse them that he began composing his "Nonsense Books."