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American Ornithology
by Alexander Wilson
Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, (1808-14) First edition
New York & Philadelphia: Collins & Co. & Harrison Hall, (1829) Second edition
Original antique engravings with hand-coloring.
Full, but narrow margins as issued for First edition. (Sheet size: approx. 10.5 x 13.5 inches
Second edition prints are on somewhat larger sheets, approx. 13.5 x 17 inches
Note on condition: The first edition of Wilson's American Ornithology was issued on American made paper that had many impurities in it. Thus it is almost impossible to find these prints without some discoloration and spotting on the paper. All prints listed below are in good condition for Wilson prints, with specific blemishes noted.
Alexander Wilson is known as “the father of American ornithology.” He earned this title both because of his American Ornithology—the first natural history just on American birds, which was first issued from 1808 to 1814 and so predated Audubon by about two decades—and because he was the first American citizen to become a full-time scientist in this field. Wilson, a Scottish immigrant, drew most of the birds for his ornithology himself; the engraving was mostly by Alexander Lawson and John G. Warnicke. Wilson worked with a small budget and so had to crowd as many specimens as he could onto one plate for the series. This led to the characteristic appearance of many of his prints, with several birds, juxtaposed in different combinations, filling the page right up to the plate mark. Although he fell far short of his goal of depicting every species of bird in North America, Wilson’s is a highly respected work in the history of science, and he was the leading competitor and chief precursor of Audubon. These are fine and important prints from the first American ornithology. |
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Plate 12
Drawn from nature by A. Wilson
Engraved by A. Lawson
1. Rice Bunting
2. Female
3. Red-eyed Flycatcher
4. Marsh Wren
5. Great Carolina Wren
6. Yellow-throat Warbler
CONDITION: GOOD/VERY GOOD
Narrow, but ample margins as issued; right and bottom outer margins somewhat soiled; apparantly original light watercolor smear just below tail of bird 2; penciled plate number at bottom
Sheet size: 10 3/8 x 13 3/8 inches
(First edition, Volume 2, 1810)
$525
Plate 13
Drawn from nature by A. Wilson
Engraved by A. Lawson
1. Tyrant Flycatcher
2. Great Crested Flycatcher
3. Small green Crested Flycatcher
4. Pe-we Flycatcher
5. Wood Pe-we Flycatcher
CONDITION: GOOD/VERY GOOD
Narrow, but ample margins as issued; margins somewhat age toned; moderate foxing, mainly in top portion
Sheet size: 10 1/4 x 13 3/8 inches
(First edition, Volume 2, 1810)
$675
Plate 15
Drawn from nature by A. Wilson
Engraved by G. Murray
1. Red-cocaded Woodpecker [sic]
2. Brown-headed Nuthatch
3. Pigeon Hawk
4. Blue-winged Yellow Warbler
5. Golden-winged Warbler
6. Blue-eyed Warbler
7. Black-breasted Blue Warbler
CONDITION: GOOD/VERY GOOD
a couple of faint fox marks, light browning to paper edges, otherwise very fine
Sheet size: 13 1/2 x 17
(Second edition, 1829)
$625
Plate 18
Drawn from nature by A. Wilson
Engraved by A. Lawson
1. Cow Bunting
2. Female
3. Young
4. Maryland Yellow-throat
5. Blue-grey Flycatcher
6. White-eyed Flycatcher
CONDITION: VERY GOOD
very light scattered foxing; short nicks and tears to extreme outer edges of paper
Sheet size: 11 3/4 x 16 1/8 inches
(Second edition, 1829)
$350
Plate 39
Drawn from nature by A. Wilson
Engraved by J. Warnicke
1. Chimney Swallow
2. Purple Martin
3. Female
4. Connecticut Warbler
CONDITION: VERY GOOD
very light scattered foxing; more prominent fox mark just above title; otherwise very nice condition
Sheet size: 11 3/8 x 14 3/8 inches
(Second edition, 1829)
$600