Audubon, John James, and John Bachman

The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. New York: J. J. Audubon, 1845[–1848]

3 volumes in 2, broadsheets (27 1/2 x 21 1/8 in.; 697 x 538 mm). 150 fine handcolored lithographed plates by J. J. Audubon and J. W. Audubon, backgrounds after Victor Audubon, lithography by J. T. Bowen, 2 (of 3) lithographed title-pages, 3 leaves of Contents (plate lists) bound at end of vol. 2; lacks text volumes, title-pages creased, stained, torn, and repaired, contents leaves foxed, plates 1 and 76 browned, scattered foxing and staining (chiefly marginal). Contemporary straight-grain brown morocco over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, red-sprinkled edges; extremities worn, joints repaired.

McGill/Wood 208; Nissen, ZBI 162; Reese, American Color Plate Books 36

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First edition, "the largest successful color plate book project of 19th-century America" (Reese). Audubon approached this successor to his celebrated Birds of America with characteristic zeal. In 1840 he wrote to his collaborator, the Rev. James Bachman, "I am growing old, but what of this? My spirits are as enthusiastical as ever, my legs full able to carry my body for ten years to come, and in about two of these I expect the illustrations out, and ere the following twelve months have elapsed, their histories studied, their descriptions carefully prepared and the book printed! Only think of the quadrupeds of America being present to the World of Science by Audubon and Bachman" (Streshinsky, Audubon, p. 33). Audubon's prediction was overly optimistic. He was able to complete seventy-seven drawings before failing health kept him from his work. The remainder were completed by his son, John Wodehouse. The massive enterprise was a commercial success, owing chiefly to Victor Audubon's careful management, and more than three hundred copies were subscribed for.