![AUDUBON, John James (1785-1851). Ornithological Biography, or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America; Accompanied by Descriptions of the Objects Represented in the Work Entitled The Birds of America, and Interspersed with Delineations of American Scenery and Manners. Philadelphia: E. L. Carey and A. Hart, 1832 (Vol. 1); Boston: Hilliard, Gray, 1835 (vol. 2); Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1835-49 [i.e. 1839] (vols. 3-5).](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2012/NYR/2012_NYR_02655_0002_000(audubon_john_james_ornithological_biography_or_an_account_of_the_habit124316).jpg?w=1)
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AUDUBON, John James (1785-1851). Ornithological Biography, or an Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America; Accompanied by Descriptions of the Objects Represented in the Work Entitled The Birds of America, and Interspersed with Delineations of American Scenery and Manners. Philadelphia: E. L. Carey and A. Hart, 1832 (Vol. 1); Boston: Hilliard, Gray, 1835 (vol. 2); Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1835-49 [i.e. 1839] (vols. 3-5).
5 volumes, 8o (265 x 150 mm). Half-titles. (Some occasional pale browning and spotting.) Late 19th/early 20th-century red morocco gilt (vol. 1 rebacked preserving original spine, some rubbing to joints). Provenance: George C. Shattuck, M.D. (1813-1893, presentation inscription from the author; signature on title of vol. 4).
FIRST EDITION of volumes three to five, first American edition of volume one, later American edition of volume two. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY AUDUBON on the front flyleaf on volume one: "With J.J. Audubon's respectful compliments to George C. Shattuck, M.D." Shattuck was raised in Boston and throughout his career took a strong interest in education. He founded the St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. Shattuck read a paper before the Paris Society for Medical Observation, in 1838, that served to mark out the distinction between typhus and typhoid fevers. For nearly twenty years he was a professor in the Harvard Medical School; from 1855 to 1859, professor of clinical medicine, and from 1859 to 1873, professor of the theory and practice of medicine. In 1849 he succeeded Oliver Wendell Holmes as visiting physician to the Massachusetts General Hospital and served in this capacity for thirty-six years. He was president of the Massachusetts Medical Society from 1872 to 1874, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
"As early as November of 1826, shortly after Lizars had begun the engraving of the Birds of America, Audubon had written in his journal: 'I shall publish the letterpress in a separate book, at the same time with the illustrations, and shall accompany the descriptions of the birds with many anecdotes and accounts of localities connected with the birds themselves, and with my travels in search of them.' Had Audubon included the letterpress with the engravings, he would have been required, under the British Copyright Act of 1709, to deposit a copy of the work in nine libraries in the United Kingdom. Hence his letterpress appeared separately in the five volumes of the Ornithological Biography" (Fries, p. 47). Ayer/Zimmer 20-21; Copenhagen/Anker 18; Ellis/Mengel 96; McGill/Wood, p. 207. (5)
5 volumes, 8o (265 x 150 mm). Half-titles. (Some occasional pale browning and spotting.) Late 19th/early 20th-century red morocco gilt (vol. 1 rebacked preserving original spine, some rubbing to joints). Provenance: George C. Shattuck, M.D. (1813-1893, presentation inscription from the author; signature on title of vol. 4).
FIRST EDITION of volumes three to five, first American edition of volume one, later American edition of volume two. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY AUDUBON on the front flyleaf on volume one: "With J.J. Audubon's respectful compliments to George C. Shattuck, M.D." Shattuck was raised in Boston and throughout his career took a strong interest in education. He founded the St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. Shattuck read a paper before the Paris Society for Medical Observation, in 1838, that served to mark out the distinction between typhus and typhoid fevers. For nearly twenty years he was a professor in the Harvard Medical School; from 1855 to 1859, professor of clinical medicine, and from 1859 to 1873, professor of the theory and practice of medicine. In 1849 he succeeded Oliver Wendell Holmes as visiting physician to the Massachusetts General Hospital and served in this capacity for thirty-six years. He was president of the Massachusetts Medical Society from 1872 to 1874, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
"As early as November of 1826, shortly after Lizars had begun the engraving of the Birds of America, Audubon had written in his journal: 'I shall publish the letterpress in a separate book, at the same time with the illustrations, and shall accompany the descriptions of the birds with many anecdotes and accounts of localities connected with the birds themselves, and with my travels in search of them.' Had Audubon included the letterpress with the engravings, he would have been required, under the British Copyright Act of 1709, to deposit a copy of the work in nine libraries in the United Kingdom. Hence his letterpress appeared separately in the five volumes of the Ornithological Biography" (Fries, p. 47). Ayer/Zimmer 20-21; Copenhagen/Anker 18; Ellis/Mengel 96; McGill/Wood, p. 207. (5)