Swainson was one of the first naturalists to use lithography for his illustrations, which allowed for cheaper production compared to engraving. He published many illustrated works serially, with subscribers receiving sections as they were completed to provide constant cash flow. Swainson would hand-color the monochrome lithographs according to color reference images. His early adoption of this new technology and skill at illustration led to his fame. Later in his career, Swainson co-authored the influential Fauna Boreali-Americana series and produced works for several other publishers.

1. 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'sNaturalist's Library, and eleven volumes of
Lardner'sCabinet Cyclopedia; he had signed a contract
with Longman to produce fourteen illustrated
volumes of 300 pages in this series, one to be
produced quarterly