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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES
by WILSON, Alexander [HAND-COLORED PLATES]
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Some offsetting of plates onto text, unevenly browned, some spots and stains. One plate is nicked in the outer edge, another wit
- Seller
-
Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1808-1814. First Edition. Hardcover. Some offsetting of plates onto text, unevenly browned, some spots and stains. One plate is nicked in the outer edge, another with an early repair along the gutter, neither affecting the image. Spines lightly faded, extremities a bit worn, some inner hinges cracked. Very Good set of this attractive and historic work. Alexander Wilson. Nine folio (10-1/2" x 14") volumes in early 20th-century quarter red roan leather, marbled boards, ruled and lettered in gilt on the spines. Illustrated with 76 hand-colored engraved plates after Wilson by Alexander Lawson, Benjamin Tanner, G. Murray, and J. G. Warnicke. FIRST ISSUE (preface dated 1 October 1808) of this pioneering work by the "father of American ornithology." Wilson's original drawings and paintings of birds and detailed observations of their habits and habitats combined to produce "the first truly great American ornithology and also the first truly outstanding American colour plate book of any type" (Bennett 114), predating Audubon. The numerous figures represent 262 species of birds, 39 of which were new to science and 23 re-classified. Volumes I-VII were published during the author's life; Volume VIII was edited by George Ord and Volume IX completed by him from Wilson's notes and his own observations. Sabin 104597; Zimmer page 679. Pencil signature of Francis C. Stanwood on each title page dating the binding to 1907. A superb American production. Along with Audubon it is one of the color plate masterpieces of the 19th century, significantly less expensive to obtain though becoming very difficult to locate.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Charles Agvent
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 014393
- Title
- AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES
- Author
- WILSON, Alexander [HAND-COLORED PLATES]
- Illustrator
- Alexander Wilson
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Some offsetting of plates onto text, unevenly browned, some spots and stains. One plate is nicked in the outer edge, another wit
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition
- Publisher
- Bradford and Inskeep
- Place of Publication
- Philadelphia
- Date Published
- 1808-1814
- Keywords
- Birds, Color Plate Books, Americana, Alexander Wilson, Rare, Natural History, Hand-Colored Plates, Ornithology, Illustrated
- Bookseller catalogs
- Natural History; Ornithology; Hand-Colored Plates;
Terms of Sale
Charles Agvent
All books subject to prior sale. Payment with order; institutions may be billed. Postage additional: $11.00 for the first book, $6.00 each thereafter. Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania residents must add 6% sales tax. Mastercard, Visa, and American Express accepted. We are also open to reasonable payment terms. A book may be returned within 7 days of receipt for any reason provided it is in the same condition as sent and prior notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value.
About the Seller
Charles Agvent
Biblio member since 2003
Fleetwood, Pennsylvania
About Charles Agvent
We carry a diverse and select stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century Literary First Editions, Signed Books & Autographs (especially Presidential and Literary), and Limited Editions Club books. We have been in business since 1987 and are proud to be members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB).
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- G
- Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (as defined by AB...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Gutter
- The inside margin of a book, connecting the pages to the joints near the binding.
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Marbled boards
- ...
- Cracked
- In reference to a hinge or a book's binding, means that the glue which holds the opposing leaves has allowed them to separate,...
- Plate
- Full page illustration or photograph. Plates are printed separately from the text of the book, and bound in at production. I.e.,...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
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