Beschreibung:

WILSON, ALEXANDER American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of the Birds of the United States. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1808-1814. 9 vols. bound in three. Folio, 3/4 green calf, gilt-lettered spine labels. With list of subscribers, half titles and 76 hand-colored engravings by Alexander Lawson G. Murray, Benjamin Tanner and J. G. Warnicke, from original drawings by Wilson. [Together with:] The Natural History of Birds … Not Given by Wilson. By Charles Bonaparte. Philadelphia: Samuel Augustus Mitchell; Carey, Lea & Carey, 1825-1833. 4 vols. in one. Folio, bound in matching 3/4 green calf. With 27 hand-colored engravings by Titian Ramsay Peale and Alexander Rider Foxing and browning to plates in all volumes and some offsetting; rubbing to binding; bookplates tipped in front pastedowns; one plate detached. First edition of the first color plate American bird book published in America, together with its four-volume continuation. Wilson, whose work was published more than a decade before Audubon's appeared, is considered the father of American ornithology. Estimate $ 7,000-9,000 Literature: Anker 533 ("the classical work of American ornithological literature"); Bennett, p.114; Fine Bird Books, p.114 ("the first American bird book with coloured plates published in America"); Nissen IVB 992; Reese 3; Sabin 104598; Wood, p.630; Zimmer, p.679. Provenance: J.C. Bowring, bookplate Boards rubbed and scratched on all vols.; ends and corners bumped and chipped with some loss; upper board detached from vol. IV/VI; bookplate tipped to front pastedown all vols.; moderate to heavy ghosting and offsetting from plates throughout all vols.; scattered heavy brownspotting; "Blue Jay" plate detached from vol. I; extremities of some leaves chipped.