BONAPARTE, Charles Lucien, 2nd Prince of Canino and Musignano (1803-1857). Iconografia della fauna Italica. Rome: Tipografia Salviucci, 1832-1841.

The lovely Bradley Martin copy of Bonaparte's work on the fauna of Italy. The monumental project was originally issued in 30 parts and included hand-colored plates of birds, mammals, snakes, lizards, and fish with corresponding text. Bonaparte had previously completed what Bennet called an "admirable" supplement to Alexander Wilson's work, American Ornithology, which became "the most important work on American birds prior to Audubon." Anker 48.

Three volumes, folio (388 x 265mm). Uncut. With broadsheet loosely inserted in vol.1: "Conspectus Systematis Ornithologiae, Caroli-Luciani Bonaparte," revised edition, 1850 (some tears along folds, small loss). 180 hand-colored lithographs (one or two touched up slightly). (Some spotting at beginnings and ends of text, some minor soiling/staining to margins, small abrasion to bottom line of text for sciurus italicus in vol 1 affecting 2 letters; otherwise clean and bright.) Contemporary half black morocco gilt, top edge gilt (lightly rubbed/scuffed at extremities). Provenance: Edward Joshua Cooper, Irish landowner, politician, and astronomer, 1798-1863 (Markree Library bookplate; sold:) – books from the library of Markree Castle, Sotheby's, 14 December 1953, lot 197 (sold: Wheldon & Wesley) – H. Bradley Martin (bookplate to volume 2; his sale, "Magnificent Color-Plate Ornithology," Sotheby's New York, 7 June 1989, lot 48).