John Gould | A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, London, [1844-] 1850, later green morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf

John Gould

A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America. London: Richard and John E. Taylor for the author, [1844-] 1850

First edition, folio (548 x 372 mm.), list of subscribers, 32 hand-coloured lithographed plates after John Gould and H.C. Richter, later green morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, spine with raised bands in six compartments, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, scattered spotting, lightly browned at extremities, lightly bumped at head of spine

Gould was inspired to undertake this study "by the sight of several living examples of the beautiful Callipella Californica, brought home and presented to the Zoological Society of London by Captain Beechey in 1830" (preface). Gould's research took him to Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Leipzig, Berlin, Hanover, Amsterdam, and Leiden, and he was subsequently able to more than triple the number of recorded species of this genus.

Originally issued in three parts, The Partridges of America was dedicated to Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, whose own most widely known ornithological book concerned the birds of America.

For more information about Gould, please refer to Lot 88.

LITERATURE:

Anker 176; Fine Bird Books, p. 78; Nissen IVB 376; Sauer 13; Zimmer, p. 257; Wood 365

PROVENANCE:

William Proby, 5th Earl of Carysfort (1836-1909), bookplate