Lot 5: BONAPARTE, Charles Lucien (1803-1857). American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of Birds inhabiting the United States not given by Wilson . Philadelphia: Samuel Augustus Mitchell, 1825-1828.

BONAPARTE, Charles Lucien (1803-1857). American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of Birds inhabiting the United States not given by Wilson. Philadelphia: Samuel Augustus Mitchell, 1825-1828.

Volumes I-III only (of 4) bound in one, 2° (380 x 293mm). 21 (of 27) hand-colored engraved plates. (Some offsetting to text leaves, chip without loss to bottom margin of I2 in vol. I, variable browning, sometimes heavy to text leaves in vols II and III.) Contemporary red half morocco, spines elaborately gilt with foliate scrolls and other tools, green morocco gilt lettering-piece (extremities a little rubbed). Provenance: George Savile Foljambe (bookplate).

FIRST EDITION of Bonaparte's continuation of Wilson (see lot 60) This set has the first issue of vol. I, with the Mitchell imprint. Bonaparte originally conceived the work in three volumes, only publishing the fourth some five years after volume III (cf. Anker 47 & Fine Bird Books (1990) p. 78). Zimmer 64; Bennett 16; Coues 1:609; Mengel 312a-b; Nissen IVB 116; Sabin 6264; Wood 247.

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