The Quadrupeds of North America

New York: V.G. Audubon, 1854. hardcover. very good(+). Audubon, John James.. 3 volumes. Illustrated with 155 glorious hand-colored lithographic plates with tissue guards. viii, 383 [1]; ii, 334; viii, 348pp. Royal 8vo, wonderfully bound in contemporary red pebbled morocco; ornate gilt-decorated covers and spines; inner and outer dentelles, a.e.g. (bindings are just a bit rubbed; light scattered foxing throughout, but the plates are virtually spotless). New York: V.G. Audubon, 1852, 1854, 1854. Early edition.<br/> <br/> The folio edition containing 150 plates was published between 1845-48. A supplementary volume with only 6 plates came in 1854. These were hastily followed by the octavo in 31 parts (1849-51-54), "A miniature copy of the large edition" as the Audubons described it. The bound octavo edition has the same dates and contains 155 plates, being all those from the original folio, plus 5 of the 6 from the supplement. Bound copies of the octavo edition with the V.G. Audubon imprint have been cited with various dates, some as late as 1856. "In the 1830s, Audubon began to gather material for his Viviparous Quadrupeds... meant to complete his record of animal life in North America. The contributors to the project included John Bachman, a naturalist and Lutheran minister, who wrote all of the descriptions and acted as scientific editor for the work, and Audubon's two sons, John Woodhouse and Victor. With his sons, Audubon collected and drew specimens in the Eastern woodlands, Missouri, and the Rock Mountains, as well as in coastal regions of Florida and the East coast. Although Audubon's health and eyesight began to fail, he managed to complete 77 drawings before illness kept him from his work... Together, the three men, along with Bachman, produced an unequaled record of American wildlife. Like the Birds of America, the Quadrupeds are wonderfully animated, superbly rendered, and beautifully printed." Sabin 2368; Nissen 163; McGill/Wood 208; Bennett 5; Phillips Sporting 27; Meisel II 468.<br/> <br/>