3 volumes. viii, 383; [4], 334; [2], v, 348, [1] pp. Illustrated with 155 hand-colored lithographed plates after J.J. and J.W. Audubon, drawn on stone by W.E. Hitchcock and printed and colored by J.T. Bowen & Co. of Philadelphia. (8vo) Vol. I is 10¼x6½, half black morocco & cloth, spine ruled & lettered in gilt, raised bands; Vols. II-III are 10½x6¾, full dark blue morocco tooled gilt, raised spine bands, all edges gilt.
Famed collaboration between Audubon and his sons, John Woodhouse and Victor Gifford, and the Lutheran minister, John Bachman. They travelled through much newly explored territory, illustrating many species that are scarce or endangered today. Beautiful hand-colored plates of hares, squirrels, buffalo, wolves, deer, grizzly bears, etc. The octavo edition was first issued in parts between 1849 and 1854; V.G. Audubon published the first three octavo editions. The present set is mixed; Vol. I is dated 1852, Vol. II MDCCCLIV, Vol. III 1854; the last two seem to have been from the Royal Octavo Edition, slightly larger in size and in deluxe binding.
Condition:
Some scuffing to joints and extremities; some light foxing within and some finger soiling, Vol. I prelims. darkened, contents marginally dampstained but not affecting plates, a few tissue guards lacking, several torn; overall very good, plates quite nice, bright and generally clean.