American Ornithology; or the Natural History of the Birds of the United States: Complete Set by Wilson, Alexander; Ord, George - 0

Philadelphia, PA: Bradford & Inskeep, Laval & Bradford. Very Good. 0. Hardcover. Seventy-six beautiful hand-colored plates illustrate Alexander Wilson's attempt to comprehensively catalogue the birds of the United States. Born in Scotland in 1766,Wilson apprenticed as a weaver before emigrating to the United States in 1794, where he worked a variety of jobs before settling in teaching. By 1803 Wilson, inspired by his new hobby of drawing and his associations with naturalist William Bartram, expressed interest in compiling what would become American Ornithology. In the remaining decade of his life, he traveled extensively throughout the eastern U.S., studying and sketching as well as giving sales pitches for his intended 9-volume set. He is considered the first scientific American ornithologist; John James Audobon expressly stated his intent to surpass Wilson's work. Wilson died in 1813; volumes 8 and 9 were published by his friend and supporter, naturalist George Ord. The last volume contains the remaining four plates and Ord's biography of Wilson. Collated and complete; all plates are present. Mixture of first (Vols. 1-6) and later printings (Vols. 7-9). Dates range from 1808 - 1825. Three-quarter red leather over marbled paper boards. Boards are rubbed on edges, corners bumped. Pages quite clean except for some occasional spotting and offsetting near plates. Plates have light to moderate foxing, tissue guards show offsetting from plates. Gilt on spines rubbed, some nicks and dents. Each volume has a small bookplate from a previous owner on the front endpaper. Bindings have been professionally restored and hinges strengthened. Occasional small <2" tears on edges of pages; larger tears are noted in individual descriptions of volumes: Vol. 1 158pp ~5"x1" open tear to page 41, closed tear page 43. Pages 59-64 have several significant tears that run nearly the width of the page. Vol. 2 167pp. 2" diameter open tear on page 81. Large tear to tissue guard for Plate XV, small closed tear on Plate XVI Vol. 3 120pp. Tissue guard for plate XX is loose. Vol. 4 100pp. Plates show a bit more foxing than other volumes. Large tear to tissue guard on Plate XXIX, corner of the plate is chipped. Vol. 5 122pp.Tears to tissue guards for plates XXXVII, XXXVIII, XXXIX is heavily creased, XLI, XLV; few chips to edges of plate XLIII. Vol. 6 102pp. Tears to tissue guards for plate XLVI, plate XLVII is loose. Moderate to heavy spotting of pages in latter half of volume. Vol. 7 138pp. Small open and closed tears pp. 117-124; tissue guard for plate LXIII is wrinkled and torn across most of the page. Moderate spotting to endpapers. Vol. 8 162pp. Closed tear ~4" on page 125, some soiling pp. 160-161 Vol. 9 298pp. A bit of cosmetic damage to spine, foxing to endpapers. 4" closed tear to page 253. Inquire for photos.; Book; Folio - over 12 - 15" tall .