American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of Birds inhabiting the United States, not given by Wilson. 3 vols. First editions with 21 plates.
Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey: London: John Miller, 1825-1828. Original editions. 3 volumes (of 4) large 4to, 375 x 288: (1 f.), vi pp., (1 f.), 105 pp., 9 plates; vii, (1 f.), 95 pp., 6 plates; (1 f.), 60 pp., (1 f.), 6 plates. Red half-morocco with corners, gilt castors, smooth spine decorated (contemporary binding). Bindings solid but rubbed with surface losses.... The 21 color plates in fresh condition but text pages browned in vols. 2 and 3... Sitwell, Fine Bird Books, 1700-1900 (1990), p. 78; Nissen, Die illustrierten Vogelbuecher, p. 93...
This work on the birds of America is the supplement given by the Italian zoologist and politician Charles Lucien Bonaparte (1803-1857) to Alexander Wilson's monumental American ornithology published in 9 volumes at the beginning of the century.
In the first volume Bonaparte describes 16 species of land birds, in the second he describes 74 of them, 60 of which are aquatic species. The last volume is devoted to the description of terrestrial and aquatic species, based mainly on the observations made by the painter and naturalist Titian Ramsay Peale (1799-1885) in Florida.
Each species was reproduced in color on 21 copper engraved plates by Alexander Lawson after A. Rider...
The 4th volume is not included and was not published until 1833...
Rubbings and extensive epiderminations on the bindings. Heavy foxing, especially in volumes 2 and 3, but not reaching the plates.
Provenance: Charles Campbell, with this manuscript annotation on the free endpapers : "Edward to Charles Campbell. Merton Abbey. Surrey. England. " - Label with embossed Russian inscription and handwritten inventory number. Item #51-4266
Price: $6,000.00