AUDUBON, John James. The Birds of America, from Drawings made in the United States and their Territories. New York: V. G. Audubon, Roe Lockwood & Son, 1860. WITH: AUDUBON, John James and BACHMAN, John (1790-1874). The Quadrupeds of North America. New York: V.G. Audubon, n.d.,1856-1860.

Octavo editions of both of Audubon's great works of natural history, the format in which they assured his place in history. Birds is the fourth octavo edition, using the same text as the first octavo edition of 1840-1844, but with improvements made to the plates such as larger captions and more tinted and scenic backgrounds. "Many of the elaborate scenic backgrounds of the original folio, which were modified or eliminated in the first octavo, have been replaced and in some cases the size of the figures has been altered in consequence" (Ayer/Zimmer, p. 23).

Birds: Seven volumes, royal octavo (265 x 166mm). Steel-engraved text illustrations; 500 hand-colored lithographic plates with tinted backgrounds (title pages spotted, some foxing and toning to text, not usually affecting plates but plates with paler toning and scattered light stains). Original blind-stamped morocco, edges gilt (rubbed, spine ends worn, lower cover of vol. 6 started).

Quadrupeds: Three volumes, royal octavo (265 x 175mm). 155 hand-colored lithographic plates with tinted backgrounds (some pale browning to text and toning to plates, scattered minor stains). Original blind-stamped morocco, edges gilt (spine ends chipped, rubbed, text blocks cracked in a few places).