American Ornithology - photo 1
American Ornithology - photo 2
American Ornithology - photo 3

American Ornithology

Lot 131
26.05.2022 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 37 800
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 752837
Lot 131 | American Ornithology
Estimate value
$ 10 000 – 15 000
American OrnithologyAlexander Wilson, 1808-1826WILSON, Alexander (1766-1813). American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of the Birds of the United States. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1808-12, 1825-26. "The first truly great American ornithology and also the first truly outstanding American color plate book of any type" (Bennett). The present is a mixed edition, comprised of first editions of volumes 1-6 (being the second issue of volume one) and reissues of volumes 7-9. While his fame has been eclipsed by Audubon, Wilson was truly the "father of American ornithology," and his work represents the first attempt to systematically describe and depict the various birds of the United States from first-hand observation. He traveled extensively in the American wilderness, caught and studied 320 different birds, including several that had not previously been known, and taught himself the art of drawing. He personally supervised the engraving of the plates, assisted in the coloring, wrote the descriptions, and even acted as his own salesman, peddling the work from door to door. Wilson died before the final three volumes were published, and the text of the work was completed from his notes by George Ord, who also contributed a lengthy biography of Wilson to the final volume. 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; Sabin 104597; Stamped with a National Character 3 ("the first American work to use color plates to convey scientific information"). Nine volumes, folio (341 x 265mm). 76 hand-colored engraved plates by Alexander Lawson, George Murray, John G. Warnicke and Benjamin Tanner after Wilson (some spotting and browning, a bit heavy in some places; front endpaper of vol. 1 creased). Contemporary half red roan gilt over marbled boards.
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