Red Shouldered Tanager - Shaw & Nodder - 1793

George Shaw & Frederick Polydore Nodder, The Naturalist’s Miscellany, London, 1793
Hand-coloured copperplate engraving on laid paper with English descriptive leaf

This striking early-series plate, published April 1 1793, depicts the brilliantly hued Red-Shouldered Tanager, an elegant bird whose flaming shoulder patches earned comparison with the red-winged Oriole (Oriolus phoeniceus) of Linnaeus. Shaw’s commentary marvels at its close resemblance yet smaller size and flatter bill, noting that the specimen was “believed to be an inhabitant of Africa.” Nodder’s engraving combines delicate contouring and luminous hand-colouring typical of the Naturalist’s Miscellany, one of the most celebrated illustrated zoological serials of the Enlightenment.

A small caption beneath the image which we have excerpted in the images attached reads:

“London, Published as the Act directs, April 1 1793, by F. P. Nodder.”
“F. P. Nodder del. et sculp.”
confirming it was both drawn and engraved by Frederick Polydore Nodder, the father and original artist-engraver of the series.

Condition

Fine impression with strong plate mark and rich original hand-colour. Paper clean and evenly toned, with only the faintest handling marks near margins.

• Plate edges retain slight deckling and original binding pinholes at left.

• No tears, foxing, or staining; vivid red, yellow, and black pigments remain bright and unfaded.

• Text leaf equally clean and crisp, showing fine 18th-century laid texture and intact chain-lines.

Overall grade: Fine to Near Fine (8.5 / 10) – exceptionally well-preserved early-series example.

Rarity

Plates from the 1790–1795 Miscellany issues are sought for their early publication dates and consistent quality of colouring. Approximate print runs for each issue were 300–500 copies, though far fewer survive intact today. Bird plates, particularly brightly coloured tanagers and orioles, are among the most decorative and collectible. Examples in this condition with text leaf are now uncommon on the market.

Note

The Red-Shouldered Tanager exemplifies late-18th-century fascination with global ornithology at the dawn of colonial exploration. Shaw’s description demonstrates the blurred taxonomy of the period, when African and American species were still being compared through colour and form alone. The plate’s early date, full original colour, and clear “F. P. Nodder del. et sculp.” signature make it a classic and highly displayable specimen of Georgian scientific art.

Size: approx. 13.97 × 22.23 cm (image and text close to A5 format)