Audubon, John James

The Birds of America, from Drawings made in the United States and their Territories. New York: J. J. Audubon, Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840

7 volumes, 8vo (9 7/8 x 6 1/8 in.; 253 x 155 mm). 500 handcolored lithographed plates after Audubon by W. E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly, and others, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen, with tissue guards, numerous wood-engraved text illustrations of anatomical figures, half-titles and lists of subscribers in each volume (save vol. 5 which lacks half-title); plates 252 and 254 in vol. 4 supplied from another copy, 6 plates shaved affecting imprint or plate no. (138, 142 touching leaf tip, 147, 364, 424, 442, 465), a few marginal smudges, a few stains in vol. 6, pages 397-399, a few very light and occasional marginal spots, a few plates lightly browned. Contemporary burgundy half-morocco, gilt-ruled over green cloth, spine gilt, marbled edges; extremities worn, upper hinge of vol. 1 detached freeing half-title and title, upper hinge of vol. 2 mended.

Ayer / Zimmer 22; Fried, Appendix A; McGill / Wood 208; Reese, American Color Plate Books 34; Sabin 2364

500 handcolored lithographed plates after Audubon by W. E. Hitchcok, R. Tremby, and others, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen, with tissue guards, numerous wood-engraved text illustrations of anatomical figures, half-titles and lists of subscribers in each volume (save vol. 5 which lacks half-title); plates 252 and 254 in vol. 4 supplied from another copy, 6 plates shaved affecting imprint or plate no. (138, 142 touching leaf tip, 147, 364, 424, 442, 465), a few marginal smudges, a few stains in vol. 6, pages 397-399, a few very light and occasional marginal spots, a few plates lightly browned. Contemporary burgundy half-morocco, gilt-ruled over green cloth, spine gilt, marbled edges; extremities worn, upper hinge of vol. 1 detached freeing half-title and title, upper hinge of vol. 2 mended.
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First octavo edition.