Description

As well as being an innovative and highly respected nature illustrator, was a beloved writer and poet, known especially for his limericks. The first edition of his A Book of Nonsense was published anonymously in London in 1846. His name did not appear as author until fifteen years later, in the third edition (London, Routledge, Warne & Routledge, 1861).
This is the original title page of what may be the first edition, and certainly is one of the earliest editions (there are other undated editions done in New York City) of this book published in America, based on the 10th London edition. It was published in Philadelphia circa 1863.
The illustration by Lear with his self-portrait is the same as that of the first edition, which was in black and white. It may be hand colored (you decide). Below the image is one of his limericks. This edition contains 112 limericks.

Here are two more of Lear’s limericks, with bird-related themes:
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, ‘It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!

There was a Young Lady whose bonnet
Came untied when the birds sate upon it;
But she said: ‘I don’t care!
All the birds in the air
Are welcome to sit on my bonnet!