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Lot 364

Sale 6370 - The Collected Library
Lots Open
Nov 26, 2025
Lots Close
Dec 11, 2025
Timed Online / Philadelphia
Please note: placed bids cannot be canceled.
Estimate
$300 - 400

Lot Description

[Natural History] Wilson, Alexander and Charles Lucien Bonaparte. American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of the Birds of the United States


London: Chatto and Windus, 1877. 3 volumes, 8vo. Half-titles, engraved portrait frontispiece of Wilson in vol.1, 103 hand-colored plates engraved by W. H. Lizars after drawings by Wilson, spotting to preliminary and concluding leaves. Original dark olive straight-grain morocco-backed cloth boards, spines gilt-stamped with a large eagle device and lettered in gilt, top edges gilt, rubbing, darkening to spines, spotting to endpapers.

Considered the first major scientific work published in the United States (1808-1814) and the most important publication on American ornithology before Audubon. This later edition, in its final state, has the largest number of plates and is the first to appear with hand-colored chromolithographed plates. Reese, Stamped with a National Character 3 (first edition).

This lot is located in Chicago.

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