Wilson's American Ornithology - Three Volumes with 103 Originally Hand-Colored Engravings

Artist or Author: Alexander Wilson

Work: American Ornithology; or the Natural History of the Birds of the United States

Date of Publication: 1876

Style: Three Volumes with 103 Originally Hand-Colored Engravings

Paper Size: ~ 9" by 6 1/4"

Condition: The work is in good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Description of the work: This wonderful three volume set with 103 bird engravings is Alexander Wilson's American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of The Birds of The United States. This edition was published in London by Chatto and Windus in 1876. It is the final state with the largest plate count for his work.

The volumes are bound in quarter leather with gold gilt lettering, bird, and details. There are 103 originally hand-colored engravings by Lizar after Wilson. The plates were drawn chiefly by Wilson, with the assistance of Peale, Audubon, and Rider. The illustrative notes and Life of Wilson are by Sir William Jardine.

The work was the "first major scientific work published in the United States." (Burtt and Davis) Scientist and historian Dr. Elliott Coues noted of Wilson's work, "Perhaps no other work on ornithology of equal extent is equally free from error, and its truthfulness is illuminated by a spark of the 'fire divine.'"

Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) was a Scottish-American ornithologist who was called the "Father of American Ornithology by George Ord. We was born in Scotland and moved to Philadelphia at 27 years old. From there, he began his work as an ornithologist. Wilson drew most of the birds for the work himself and employed Alexander Lawson and John G. Warnicke for the engraving.

Wilson spent a decade traversing the Eastern United States studying the birds and discovered 26 previously unknown species. Wilson’s work, American Ornithology, was the first focused on only American birds. Scientist and historian Dr. Elliott Coues noted of Wilson's work, "Perhaps no other work on ornithology of equal extent is equally free from error, and its truthfulness is illuminated by a spark of the 'fire divine'."

Provenance: Owned by Professor William Gardner Hale, top British authority on wading birds