Audubon, John James and John Bachman

The Quadrupeds of America. New York: V. G. Audubon, 1849–51–54

3 volumes, 8vo (10 1/8 x 7 in.; 260 x 180 mm). 155 fine handcolored lithographed plates by W. E. Hitchcock and R. Trembly after J. J. and J. W. Audubon (plates 1–31 printed by Nagel & Weingartner, New York, and colored by J. Lawrence; remaining plates printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia); no half-title in vol. 2, light spotting on title-page of vol. 1, corner stain on verso of title-page of vol. 2, marginal spots or stains on plates 1, 34, 90, and 127, slightly touching background only of pl. 34, light scattered foxing affecting a few text leaves in vol. 3. Nineteenth-century half green morocco over brown pebbled cloth, the spines in 6 compartments with raised bands lettered gilt with ornaments stamped in blind, marbled endpapers.

Bennett 5; Nissen ZBI 163; cf. Reese American Color Plate Books 38

First octavo edition, containing one hundred and fifty plates from the 1845–1848 folio edition of the Viviparous Quadrupeds of America and five of the plates from the rare 1854 supplement of that work. A fine copy, with extraordinarily bright plates.