New York: Published by J.J. Audubon/Philadelphia: J.B. Chevalier, (1839-)1840-44. In seven volumes. First octavo edition. With half-title in each volume, as well as subscriber's list. Illustrated with 500 hand-colored lithographed plates (each with tissue guard), after Audubon by W.E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly and others, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, as well as numerous in-text wood engravings. Three-quarter brown morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, stamped in gilt, gilt bird motif ornaments along spines, boards and joints rubbed, spines slightly faded, scattered chipping and wear to spine ends and extremities; all edges gilt; matching marbled endpapers; by Waters, Baltimore; front hinge of first volume cracked; scattered, generally light spotting to text and plates, somewhat heavier in first, second, fourth, and seventh volumes. Ayer/Zimmer, p. 22; Bennett, p. 5; McGill/Wood, p. 208; Nissen IVB 51; Reese, Stamped With a National Character 34; Sabin 2364

A handsome first edition set of John J. Audubon's royal octavo edition of the Birds of America. Audubon began planning this smaller and more affordable version of his ornithological masterpiece while in England supervising the final stages of his elephant folio edition. The newer edition was similarly sold via subscription, in 100 hundred parts of five plates each, costing a total of $100 (close to $3,000 in today's money). Issued over a five year period (1840-44), the set includes 65 images not present in the first elephant folio. Compositions were also reworked to contain a single species per plate, while background sceneries were at times drastically simplified. Unlike its predecessor, the seven volumes are organized in a more rigorous manner, and the accompanying descriptive text was reworked, notably with the omission of "Delineation of American Scenery and Manner". The images were reduced in size by Audubon's son, John Woodhouse Audubon, using a camera lucida, and were printed in Philadelphia by John T. Bowen and his assistants, under the direct supervision of Audubon. This edition proved to be a great success, "probably the greatest commercial success of any color plate book issued in 19th-century America" (Reese, 34).