Apart from the common and scientific names of many species, it is the quality of his illustrations that he is best remembered for. His friend William Elford Leach, head of zoology at the British Museum encouraged him to experiment with lithography for his book Zoological Illustrations (1820–23). Swainson became the first illustrator and naturalist to use lithography, which was a relatively cheap means of production and did not require an engraver. He began publishing many illustrated works, mostly serially. Subscribers received and paid for small sections of the books as they came out, so that the cash flow was constant and could be reinvested in the preparation of subsequent parts. As book orders arrived, the monochrome lithography prints were hand- coloured, according to colour reference images, known as ‘pattern plates’, which were produced by Swainson himself. It was his early adoption of this new technology and his natural skill of illustration that in large part led to his fame. [7] When Leach was forced to resign from the British Museum due to ill health, Swainson applied to replace him, but the post was given to John George Children. Swainson continued with his writing, the most influential of which was the second volume of Fauna Boreali-Americana (1831) which he co-authored with John Richardson. This series (1829–1837) was the first illustrated zoological study to be in-part funded by the British government. [8] He also produced a second series of Zoological Illustrations (1832–33), three volumes of Jardine's Naturalist's Library, and eleven volumes of Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia; he had signed a contract with Longman to produce fourteen illustrated volumes of 300 pages in this series, one to be produced quarterly
1. Apart from the common and scientific names of many species,
it is the quality of hisillustrations that he is best remembered
for. His friend William Elford Leach, head of zoologyat the British
Museum encouraged him to experiment with lithography for his
bookZoological Illustrations (182023). Swainson became the first
illustrator and naturalist to uselithography, which was a
relatively cheap means of production and did not require
anengraver. He began publishing many illustrated works, mostly
serially. Subscribers receivedand paid for small sections of the
books as they came out, so that the cash flow was constantand could
be reinvested in the preparation of subsequent parts. As book
orders arrived, the monochrome lithography prints were
hand-coloured, according to colour reference images, known as
pattern plates, which were produced by Swainson himself. It was his
early adoption of this new technology and his natural skill of
illustration that in large part led to his fame.[7]When Leach was
forced to resign from the BritishMuseum due to ill health, Swainson
applied to replacehim, but the post was given to John George
Children.Swainson continued with his writing, the mostinfluential
of which was the second volume of FaunaBoreali-Americana (1831)
which he co-authored withJohn Richardson. This series (18291837)
was the firstillustrated zoological study to be in-part funded by
theBritish government.[8] He also produced a second seriesof
Zoological Illustrations (183233), three volumes
ofJardinesNaturalists Library, and eleven volumes ofLardnersCabinet
Cyclopedia; he had signed a contract with Longman to produce
fourteen illustrated volumes of 300 pages in this series, one to be
produced quarterly
