1843 original hand-colored lithograph. Scottish painter and engraver. Painting by James Stewart. 1843 original hand-colored engraving print. William Home Lizar published about 40 different volumes on natural history, entitled the Naturalist’s Library, published in Edinburgh Scotland, from about 1840 through 1880. He did wonders for the educating Great Britain, as his illustrations became very popular, and affordable. These were issued as very small books with lots of information with details and illustrations. This was the rage of 19th century Europe. Water coloring, applied by hand. Water coloring, applied by hand, was a huge trade during the 1800’s. Good water coloring would sell your subscription as a publisher or as an author. In this case. Over 40 volumes were published in about 40 years. The water coloring really increased sales in this 19th Century subscription. It was a sign of wealth and prosperity, that you had a good job or owned property. Subscribing also indicated ones degree of education. These hand colored engravings became high in demand by readers, wanting to read about the image they were looking at. It was an age of discovery. The fascination was with knowledge and new discoveries of what existed on our planet, and in astronomy. Thus subscribers and collectors emerged with force for books like the Naturalist’s Library. A print-maker and engraver of exceptional prestige. His father was a publisher and an engraver of portraits as well as book illustrations. Lizars was first apprenticed to his father, from whom he learned engraving, and then entered as a student in the Trustees’ Academy at Edinburgh. In 1812, on the death of his father, Lizars had to carry on the business of engraving and copperplate printing in order to support his mother and family. In October 1826, Lizars met J. Audubon in Edinburgh while he had his portfolio in hand. Thus began an intense period when Lizars helped Audubon meet Edinburgh luminaries likely to be useful to him. Lizars had a celebrated portrait of Audubon painted (it is now in the White House), by John Syme, in his wolfskin coat. Lizars continued his introductions of Audubon and in late November, took him to meet the leading phrenologist of the day, George Combe, as well as other noted practitioners. Audubon came to an agreement to have Lizars publish Audubon’s Birds of America. And after a promising start, the collaboration did not go well. Consequently, Audubon moved the production to London. The work was completed by the Havell family. In the early 1830’s he is listed as operating from 3 St James Square, in Edinburgh, the center for printers at that time. He was still living there at the end of his life. He died in Edinburgh on 30 March 1859, leaving a widow and family. Lizars perfected a method of etching which performed the functions of wood-engraving, for illustration of books. His works of art can be found at Royal Academy, London; Scottish National Gallery, Founding member Royal Scottish Academy, etc.