Philadelphia: Published by Bradford and Inskeep, Printed by Robert Carr. 1808-14. Binding: ½ calf in burgundy, contemporary marbled boards, expertly rebacked, spine with 5 raised bands, title in gilt on two, spine compartments with decorative gilt ruling and central devices., Notes: Alexander Wilson (July 6, 1766 – August 23, 1813) was a Scottish-American poet, ornithologist, naturalist, and illustrator. Identified by George Ord as the "Father of American Ornithology", Wilson is regarded as the greatest American ornithologist prior to Audubon. Wilson taught at the Milestone School in Bristol Township, the present-day East Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, for five years from 1796 to 1801. He then moved on to teach briefly in New Jersey. Eventually, Wilson settled into a position at Gray's Ferry, Pennsylvania, and took up residence in nearby Kingsessing. There, he met the famous naturalist William Bartram, who encouraged Wilson's interest in ornithology and painting.
He published a collection of illustrations of all the birds of North America, Wilson traveled widely, collecting and painting. He also secured subscribers to fund his work, the nine-volume American Ornithology (1808–1814). Of the 268 species of birds illustrated in its pages, 26 had not previously been described. His illustrations of birds in poses were an inspiration for James Audubon and other illustrators and naturalists. “This was the first American work to use color plates to convey scientific information, and the first real combination of text and color illustration produced in the United States." (Reese 3). , Size: Small Folio, Illustration: Illustrated with 76 finely hand-colored engraved plates from the drawings of nature after T.R. Peale, A. Rider, and J.J. Audubon. A foundational work in the study of the American birds. Volume 4, leaf 43 in manuscript in period ink. , Volume: 9 volumes in 3., Pages: P. (Vol.1) title, blank, index (2 leaves ), preface (2 leaves), introduction (1-9), blank, 11-158 (9 plates); (Vol. 2) title, blank, preface (v-ix), blank, index (xi-xii), 13-167 (9 plates); (Vol. 3) title, blank, preface (v-xiv), index (xv-xvi), 17-120 (9 plates); (Vol. 4) title, blank, preface (v-x), index (xi-xii), 13-100 (9 plates); (Vol. 5) title, blank, preface (v-x), index (xi-xii), 13-122 (9 plates); (Vol. 6) title, blank, preface and general index (v-xviii), index (xix-xx), 13-102 (9 plates); (Vol. 7) title, blank, preface (v-ix), blank, index (xi-xii), 13-132 (9 plates); (Vol. 8) title, blank, preface (v-vii), blank, index (ix-xi), 13-146 (9 plates); (Vol.9) title, Pennsylvanian district note on the bottom of the leaf, preface (v-xi), blank, biographical sketch of the author (xiii-xlviii), general index (xlix-lvii), blank, index, blank, 61-133 (4 plates), blank, general index (7 leaves), list of subscribers (4 leaves)., Category: Book Americas U.S.; Book Natural History. A fine and handsome set, texts and plates are clean and crisp. Item #B6455

Binding: ½ calf in burgundy, contemporary marbled boards, expertly rebacked, spine with 5 raised bands, title in gilt on two, spine compartments with decorative gilt ruling and central devices., Notes: Alexander Wilson (July 6, 1766 – August 23, 1813) was a Scottish-American poet, ornithologist, naturalist, and illustrator. Identified by George Ord as the "Father of American Ornithology", Wilson is regarded as the greatest American ornithologist prior to Audubon. Wilson taught at the Milestone School in Bristol Township, the present-day East Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, for five years from 1796 to 1801. He then moved on to teach briefly in New Jersey. Eventually, Wilson settled into a position at Gray's Ferry, Pennsylvania, and took up residence in nearby Kingsessing. There, he met the famous naturalist William Bartram, who encouraged Wilson's interest in ornithology and painting.
He published a collection of illustrations of all the birds of North America, Wilson traveled widely, collecting and painting. He also secured subscribers to fund his work, the nine-volume American Ornithology (1808–1814). Of the 268 species of birds illustrated in its pages, 26 had not previously been described. His illustrations of birds in poses were an inspiration for James Audubon and other illustrators and naturalists. “This was the first American work to use color plates to convey scientific information, and the first real combination of text and color illustration produced in the United States." (Reese 3). , Size: Small Folio, Illustration: Illustrated with 76 finely hand-colored engraved plates from the drawings of nature after T.R. Peale, A. Rider, and J.J. Audubon. A foundational work in the study of the American birds. Volume 4, leaf 43 in manuscript in period ink. , Volume: 9 volumes in 3., Pages: P. (Vol.1) title, blank, index (2 leaves ), preface (2 leaves), introduction (1-9), blank, 11-158 (9 plates); (Vol. 2) title, blank, preface (v-ix), blank, index (xi-xii), 13-167 (9 plates); (Vol. 3) title, blank, preface (v-xiv), index (xv-xvi), 17-120 (9 plates); (Vol. 4) title, blank, preface (v-x), index (xi-xii), 13-100 (9 plates); (Vol. 5) title, blank, preface (v-x), index (xi-xii), 13-122 (9 plates); (Vol. 6) title, blank, preface and general index (v-xviii), index (xix-xx), 13-102 (9 plates); (Vol. 7) title, blank, preface (v-ix), blank, index (xi-xii), 13-132 (9 plates); (Vol. 8) title, blank, preface (v-vii), blank, index (ix-xi), 13-146 (9 plates); (Vol.9) title, Pennsylvanian district note on the bottom of the leaf, preface (v-xi), blank, biographical sketch of the author (xiii-xlviii), general index (xlix-lvii), blank, index, blank, 61-133 (4 plates), blank, general index (7 leaves), list of subscribers (4 leaves)., Category: Book Americas U.S.; Book Natural History.

Price: $16,000.00