Auction details
3:30 PM PT - Mar 1st, 2012
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[Audubon/Birds]. John James Audubon. The Birds Of America, From Drawings made in the United States and their Territories. 7 Vols. Vols I-V: New York: Published by J. J. Audubon. Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844.(Title pages of Vols VI-VII have Audubon’s Philadelphia and New York addresses, and do not credit Chevalier.) Royal 8vo. Contemp full leather, with gilt-decorated spines, aeg, gilt dentelle. 500 plates with coloring finished by hand. 1st octavo edition in book form. Wood p208, Sabin 2364. “The purely ornithological text of Audubon’s ‘Ornithological Biography,’ 1831-39 (q.v.), revised and rearranged by the author according to his ‘A Synopsis of the Birds of North America,’ 1839 (q.v.), with much additional matter but with the ‘Delineation of American Scenery and Manners’ omitted. The plates are modified copies of those of the original folio… reduced by camera lucida and lithographed. Some of the backgrounds are entirely changed… original composition is altered so that but one species is represented on a plate. In the case of four species, each occupies two plates, and in one case (pl. 88), the figures of two originals (pll. XXV and XCV) have been combined on one plate. There are 7 species of the ‘Ornithological Biography’ and ‘Synopsis’ which are figured here for the first time…” –Zwimmer (Ayer Collection), p22. Audubon gave the set to John Spencer of Morrestown, NJ in gratitude for a favor. John Spencer was the brother-in-law of ornithologist Edward Harris. The latter provided Audubon with financial assistance and participated in 2 of Audubon’s expeditions (to the Gulf of Mexico in the Spring of 1837 and to the Missouri River in 1843). John Spencer passed the set on to his son, J. E. Spencer. Ink gift inscription on Vol I’s ffep: “J. E. Spencer, from his Father/ Christmas 1866.” Spencer’s ink ownership appears at the upper corner of most title pages. J. E. Spencer later passed the set on to his daughter (and John Spencer’s granddaughter) Florence Spencer Stokes, who later gave it to her grandson, Charles Selby Truitt. From the Charles S. Truitt Estate.
Condition reportVery good, spines sunned and mildly stained, some edgewear, discoloration to eps. Foxing to texts, mostly minor foxing to plates (more significant in Vols II and III and some plates in other vols). Dampstain to upper margin of first leaves in any given volume and last leaves of some volumes, affecting image of Pl 214, upper corner of Plate 185 (overlapping its plate number), edge of a few plates in Vols II-III, and inner margin at beginning of Vol IV (affecting Vol IV’s first 3 plates). The plates are nevertheless impressive. ++ Vol I: 1840. viii, [9]-246, blank [247]-[248], Subscribers 249-256 pp. Faint crease at upper corner of Pl 67 and nearby leaves. ++ Vol II: 1841. vii, [i], [9]-205 pp. Several plates toned (including moderate toning to 1st plate). Inkstain to upper corner of Pl 95’s recto (not visible from image side). ++ Vol III: 1841. viii, [9]-233, [i], [1] pp. Some plates lightly toned. ++ Vol IV: 1842. viii, [9]-321, [i], [1] pp. Pl 223 dog-eared at corner. ++ Vol V: 1842. viii, [9]-346, [1] pp. ++ Vol VI: 1843. viii, [9]-457, [i], [1] pp. ++ Vol VII: 1844. ix, [i], [9]-372, [1] pp. Plate 471 misbound at p280. Nick/chip to top of spine. Blemish to lower margin of last plate. Stain to lower corner of verso of Pl 432. Pl 438’s tissue guard nearly detached. Toning to text leaves near end of Vol VII.
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