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Author: Cassin, John
Title: Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America. Intended to contain Descriptions and Figures of all North American Birds...
Place Published: Philadelphia
Publisher:J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Date Published: 1856
Description:

viii, 298 pp. Illustrated with 50 hand-colored lithographed plates by William E. Hitchcock, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen and primarily after drawings by George I. White; tissue guards. (Large 8vo) 26x17 cm (10¼x6¾") publisher's original full brown morocco, stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. First Edition.

John Cassin, a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, undertook this work as a general revision of ornithology of the United States following Audubon. Fifty species are beautifully illustrated, with color backgrounds, and several more are described in each synopsis. Three species are described as new (Ayer). Cassin's work is "clearly following the Audubon format and also using J.T. Bowen as a lithographer" (Reese). Ayer p.124; Nissen IVB 173; Fine Bird Books, p.64; Reese, American Color Plate Books, 42. Provenance: The library of ornithologist, author, and San Francisco industrialist Milton S. Ray, with his bookplate on front pastedown endpaper.

Extremities rubbed, front joint and hinge cracked; small stain in upper margins, not affecting images; very good.