The Detmold Brothers

Pictures from Birdland Illustrated by  Maurice Detmold and  Edward Julius Detmold;  Verses by  E B Shuldham; E. B. S.. Published London, 1899. A stupidly rare book as in many of the brothers publications. This was bought in many pieces and has the flyleaf/boards etc still present. If needed and purchasing prints added foc ** The originals are chrmolithographs which if tilted to the light show printed with each colour etc and no name to the page. Reprints are often titled/on white paper and worth pennies

Edward Julius Detmold (21 November 1883 Putney, Wandsworth, Surrey - 1 July 1957 Montgomery) and his twin brother Charles Maurice Detmold (1883-1908) were prolific Victorian book illustrators.

In 1898  ( at 16 years old) they compiled a portfolio of colour etchings of animals and flowering plants done in the Japanese style. These were much sought after and were rapidly sold out. They collaborated on the etchings and illustrations for their first book Pictures From Birdland published in 1899. This book resulted from a number of drawings being shown in the autumn of 1897, to the publisher J. M. Dent, who was so impressed that the two brothers were asked to provide coloured illustrations for a book of his. The first title mooted was Alphabet of Birds, eventually becoming Pictures from Birdland. "Particularly noticeable are the early influences in the paintings, Edward's design for an osprey, with its unusual water effects, testifying to a Japanese contribution. Already apparent is that style in which a searching study of natural forms, especially bird plumage, is subordinated to decorative arrangement" - David Larkin (The Fantastic Creatures of Edward Julius Detmold)

This was followed in 1900, by an exhibition at the Fine Art Society's Gallery in London. Their next joint project was to produce a set of 16 watercolours for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book published in 1903,by Macmillan. The success of their painting careers seemed assured, but Maurice ended his life by inhaling chloroform in April 1908, shortly before they were due to leave for a holiday in Sussex with Dr Shuldham, who had arranged that Maurice put down the household cats using the anaesthetic

The Oriole
The first book by the Detmold brothers. 24 chromolithographs of birds  a very scarce book with many later reprints. Pictures from Birdland  by M. & E. Detmold ; with rhymes by E.B.S. (E.B.S. is identified as Edward Barton Shuldham) 'The coloured plates in this volume have all been reproduced in lithography by Messrs. J.S. Virtue & Co., Ltd' Published in 1899 by London : J.M. Dent & Co. ; New York : E.P. Dutton & Co. These are unmounted as chromo's mark £40 each inc delivery cheaper collected or in quantity** Mark in margin and creased corner in mount area**

The Osprey
The first book by the Detmold brothers. 24 chromolithographs of birds  a very scarce book with many later reprints. Pictures from Birdland  by M. & E. Detmold ; with rhymes by E.B.S. (E.B.S. is identified as Edward Barton Shuldham) 'The coloured plates in this volume have all been reproduced in lithography by Messrs. J.S. Virtue & Co., Ltd' Published in 1899 by London : J.M. Dent & Co. ; New York : E.P. Dutton & Co. These are unmounted as chromo's mark £50 each inc delivery cheaper collected or in quantity

The hang Nest Wagleri
The first book by the Detmold brothers. 24 chromolithographs of birds  a very scarce book with many later reprints. Pictures from Birdland  by M. & E. Detmold ; with rhymes by E.B.S. (E.B.S. is identified as Edward Barton Shuldham) 'The coloured plates in this volume have all been reproduced in lithography by Messrs. J.S. Virtue & Co., Ltd' Published in 1899 by London : J.M. Dent & Co. ; New York : E.P. Dutton & Co. These are unmounted as chromo's mark £50 each inc delivery cheaper collected or in quantity