"9 Vols Wilson, Alexander American Ornithology; or the Natural History of the Birds of the United States. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1808 - 1814 [vols. 1 - 6, 8 and 9], 1824 [vol. 7]. Folio, original marbled boards, red morocco back and corners; rubbed and worn, bindings of vols. 1 and 3 broken, front cover of vol. 7 detached but present. With 76 hand-colored plates, tissue guards; plates in vol. 1 generally heavily foxed and toned, fore edge of plate 6 chipped - image and text intact, light to moderate foxing to plates in vols. 2 ,3 and 4, moderate to moderately heavy foxing to plates in vols. 5 and 6, moderate foxing to plates in vols. 7, 8 and 9, a few small, close tears to plate edges in vol. 9, intermittent heavy foxing to text in vol. 6, other moderate foxing to text, moderate to occasionally heavy foxing to tissue guards. First edition of vols.1 - 6, 8 and 9, second edition of vol. 7. Book plates of John A. Brown on front pastedowns.
Anker 533; Bennett p. 114, ""This is the first truly great American ornithology and also the first truly outstanding American color plate book..."""