Beschreibung:

GOULD, John (1804-1881). [ The Birds of Australia, and the adjacent islands. London: Richard & John E. Taylor, Aug. 1837 - Feb. 1838]. 2 parts (all published) in one volume, large 2° (545 x 360mm). 10 hand-coloured lithographic plates by John and Elizabeth Gould printed by Hullmandel. (Plate of the Long-winged Swift with tears in lower blank margin repaired, 2 other plates with small marginal tears, one repaired.) Modern red half morocco gilt, original printed upper wrappers bound-in (wrappers and letterpress 'notice to subscribers' laid down, wrappers slightly soiled). Provenance : JOHN JAMES AUDUBON (Gift of the author; by descent to); M.R. Audubon (bookplates, by descent to); Leonard B. Audubon (facsimile note mounted on front pastedown; sold to); Mr. Hallstrom. AUDUBON'S COPY OF THE RAREST OF GOULD'S WORKS. The facsimile of the typed statement of authenticity signed by Len Audubon states 'The books were given to my great grandfather, John James Audubon .. These particular books were sent out to Australia forty years ago, and were held in the Audubon family until this year when Mr. Hallstrom purchased the books... L. B. Audubon 16.3.1950.' Sauer précis Tom Iredale's article 'Audubon in Australia' ( Australian Zoologist 11: 318-21, 1951.) "Gould gave Audubon two parts each of his Trogonidae and Icones avium , and also the two rare cancelled parts of Birds of Australia and adjacent islands , before Gould left for his Ausralian adventure. ...Mr. Len Audubon, a great-grandson of J. J. Audubon, was born in Australia and had these books in his possession." ( John Gould The Bird Man p.272). The two parts of Gould's preliminary unfinished version of The Birds of Australia are extremely scarce as they were cancelled and most copies destroyed after they were returned by the original subscribers in exchange for the first part of the subsequent eight-volume production. Nissen IVB 369; Zimmer 253; FIne Bird Books p.77; Sauer 6.