Wilson, Alexander

American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of the Birds of the United States. Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1808-1814

9 volumes, small folio (344 x 245 mm). 76 handcolored engraved plates by Alexander Lawson, George Murray, John G. Warnicke and Benjamin Tanner after W🎶ilson, tissue guards present in vols.ඣ 4, 7-9, volume indexes bound variably at front or rear of each vol., 7 pp. subscriber's list and general index at rear of vol. 9; a few light dampstains, occasionally heavy browning, spotting, and oxidization (as usual), scattered marginal tears with a few minor losses to text leaves, "Ruffed Grous" (Vol. 6: plate 49) just shaved. Nineteenth-century half red morocco over patterned paper boards, spines gilt in compartments, by N. G. Hawley of Rochester, N.Y. with his tickets; light wear to extremities; a few unobtrusive chips and stains to morocco. 

First edition, first issue of the "first American bird book with coloured plates published in America" (Fine Bird Books) by the father of American ornithology.

The Scottish background of Wilson (1766-1813), his study of Divinity, and his apprenticeship to a weaver, gives little inkling of his contribution to a field which occupied only the last five years of his life. While in prison in 1786, he anonymously published a book of poetry, Watty and Meg, upon the example of Robert Burns. He emigrated to America in 1794, where he taught school at Milestown, Delaware. Wilson was 40 years old when, inspired by the flights of birds and♊ geese over his ꦆschool, he left teaching to try to classify and describe all the bird species in America.

He traveled extensively in the northeast and south where he studied 320 species, discovering several not previously known, while he taught himself the technique of drawing. ''In the 76 plates included in his book, Wilson portrayed more than three-quarters of the species of birds known to have existed in America at that time. His work would be overshadowed by the monumental vision of John James Audubon by mid-century, yet the text of Wilson's book was of major scientific importance. Wilson paved the way for much of what would follow, and the excellence of his contributions brought Wilson the distinction of being considered the Father of American Ornithology'' (M.R. Norelli, American Wildlife Painting, New York, 1982

REFERENCE:

Anker 533; Fine Bird Books, p.114; Nissen IVB 992; Sabin 104597; Zimmer, p.679

PROVENANCE:

A. J. Porier (armorial bookplates) — Swann Gall﷽eries, 11 June 2009, lot 129 —Guernseys, 9 November 2013, lot🀅 216 (undesignated consignors)