THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR
AUDUBON, John James. The Birds of America, from Drawings made in the United States and their territories. New York & Philadelphia: E.G.Dorsey for J.J.Audubon and [vols.I-V] J.B.Chevalier, [1839-]1840-1844.
Details
AUDUBON, John James. The Birds of America, from Drawings made in the United States and their territories. New York & Philadelphia: E.G.Dorsey for J.J.Audubon and [vols.I-V] J.B.Chevalier, [1839-]1840-1844.
7 volumes, royal 8o (257 x 167 mm). Half-titles, subscribers' lists. 500 hand-colored lithographic plates after Audubon by W.E. Hitchcock, R. Trembley and others, printed by J.T. Bowen of Philadelphia or George Endicott of New York, numerous wood-engraved anatomical figures in text. (Some occasional light spotting.) 19th-century black morocco gilt, edges gilt (some wear at ends of spines, a few small scuffs). Provenance: Peter S. Hoe (bookplate in vol. III).
FIRST OCTAVO EDITION of "Audubon's Great National Work," the first complete edition and the first American edition, with the 'Black-shouldered Elanus' plate in its earlier state. The work is one of the "most beautiful, popular, and important natural history books published in America in the nineteenth century ... representing the best of pre-Civil War American lithography and giving Audubon the opportunity finally to display his scholarship and genius to a large American audience for the first time" (Ron Tyler.) The plates, here accompanied by the text for the first time, were reduced and variously modified from the Havell engravings in the double-elephant folio. Seven new species are figured and 17 others, previously described in the Ornithology of the United States, but not illustrated, were also shown for the first time. The first edition of the octavo work now represents the only realistic opportunity that exists for collectors to own an entire collection of Audubon images in a form that was overseen and approved by the great artist himself. Bennett p. 5; Nissen IVB 51; Ripley 13; Ron Tyler Audubon's Great National Work (1993) Appendix I; Sabin 2364; Zimmer p. 22. (7)
7 volumes, royal 8
FIRST OCTAVO EDITION of "Audubon's Great National Work," the first complete edition and the first American edition, with the 'Black-shouldered Elanus' plate in its earlier state. The work is one of the "most beautiful, popular, and important natural history books published in America in the nineteenth century ... representing the best of pre-Civil War American lithography and giving Audubon the opportunity finally to display his scholarship and genius to a large American audience for the first time" (Ron Tyler.) The plates, here accompanied by the text for the first time, were reduced and variously modified from the Havell engravings in the double-elephant folio. Seven new species are figured and 17 others, previously described in the Ornithology of the United States, but not illustrated, were also shown for the first time. The first edition of the octavo work now represents the only realistic opportunity that exists for collectors to own an entire collection of Audubon images in a form that was overseen and approved by the great artist himself. Bennett p. 5; Nissen IVB 51; Ripley 13; Ron Tyler Audubon's Great National Work (1993) Appendix I; Sabin 2364; Zimmer p. 22. (7)