This exquisite collection, originally entitled Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, was originally reproduced in only 175 precious sets and sold by subscription to Britain's most eminent scholars and wealthy collectors of living parrots.
The Psittacidae established Lear as a celebrated illustrator and professor of drawing to the young Queen Victoria, and marked a before and after in bird illustration.

This new edition by Taschen is signed by Rainer Willmann, Sophia Willmann and Francesco Solinas.