Beschreibung:

ELLIOT, Daniel Giraud. The New and Heretofore Unfigured Species of the Birds of North America. New York: by the author, [1866]-1869. 2 vols. 2 o. 73 hand-colored lithographed plates after Elliot, Joseph Wolf and Edwin Sheppard (one), by Bowen & Co. and C.F. Tholey (including an additional plate parus occidentalis after Elliot bound in Introduction), 21 India proof wood engravings by W.J. Linton after Sheppard mounted in text (perforated stamp in blank margin of plate 7, blue background of plate 42, dedication leaf of vol. I and title of vol. II, marginal tear with tape repair on verso to plate 21, plate 72 detached with marginal wear, a few leaves becoming loose at beginning and end of each vol., some plates with short marginal tears or tiny bits of corners chipped off, some scattered light dust soiling or browning, several text pages torn and with tape repairs). Contemporary green half-morocco, spines gilt (some wear to edges and spine ends). FIRST EDITION. The work is dedicated to Alexander Wilson "Pioneer of American Ornithologists" and the first sentence of the Preface pays homage additionally to Audubon: "Since the time of Wilson and Audubon, no work has been published upon American Ornithology, containing life-size representations of the various species that have been discovered since the labors of those great men were finished." Nearly all of the species are illustrated life-size and Joseph Wolf's depiction of the falco islandicus has become one of the icons of ornithological illustration. Ayer/Zimmer, p. 205; Copenhagen/Anker 129; Fine Bird Books p.74; Nissen IVB 294; Reese Nineteenth Century American Color Plate Books 44. (2)