First Edition of Bonaparte's Celebrated American Ornithology, With Spectacular Hand-Colored Plates

Charles Lucian Bonaparte. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS INHABITING THE UNITED STATES, NOT GIVEN BY WILSON. WITH FIGURES DRAWN, ENGRAVED, AND COLOURED, FROM NATURE. (3) volumes (of 4 total volumes). Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey - Chestnut Street; London: John Miller, 1825-1828. First edition; second issue of vol. I. Hardcover. Bound in half red morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, spines with gilt lettering, rules, and ornaments. Folio; (Vol. I) [i-iii], iv-vi, [2], [1]-105, [1]pp. and plates I, II, IV-IX; (Vol. II) [i-iii], iv-viii, [3], [1]-95, [1]pp. and plates X-XV; (Vol. III) [i-iv], [1]-60pp. and plates XVI-XXI. With hand-colored engravings by Alex Lawson from drawings by Titian Ramsay Peale and A. Rider; with one plate by John James Audubon and A. Rider. Zimmer 64; Sabin 6264; Sitwell, Fine Bird Books, p. 78.

Each 15 x 11 3/4 in.

From a Private Virginia Collection

Charles Lucian Bonaparte (1803-1857) was a French ornithologist and the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. Raised in Italy, he left for the United States soon after he got married, and it was here that he set out to update Alexander Wilson's work. While Bonaparte later moved back to Europe and got involved in politics, he continued his studies in ornithology.

American Ornithology is considered a supplement to Wilson's work. Originally meant to be a three-volume set, a fourth volume was published five years later. Celebrated in part for the beautiful hand-colored plates, it is important to note that it also famously includes one plate partially drawn by John James Audubon, an acquaintance of Bonaparte's. (Sitwell, p. 78).

Sabin calls this "A necessary adjunct to Wilson's ornithology; now very scarce" (p. 272).

Boards with rubbing and scuffing, an occasional small stain, rubbing to extremities (heaviest at spines), and wear to spine ends with cracking at joints on vol. I though still very sturdy; interiors with toning (occasionally heavy in vols. II and III), foxing (with occasional heavy spotting), offsetting, and occasional light wear at hinges or gutter, stain, fold, minor chip, light grime, or tear; tissue guards present but with occasional tear, fold, small loss, and associated adhesive residue on plates; Vol. I with plate III (Yellow-Headed Troopial) removed and pgs. 13-16 (including plate) with additional wear including folds and larger tears at inner margin and slight detachment starting at tail; Vol. II with damp staining at outer margins and one tissue guard with very large tear. Overall good to very good with truly magnificent plates.