John James Audubon, 1831-39

AUDUBON, John James (1785-1851). Ornithological Biography. Edinburgh: Adam Black, 1831-1849 [but 1831-1839].

First edition of the text that Audubon published to accompany the double-elephant folios of Birds of America. Although the text describes each of the plates, it was published separately by Audubon in order to circumvent the British copyright act of 1709 which required that a copy of any book with text published in Great Britain had to be sent to each of the nine copyright libraries. Audubon could ill-afford the loss in revenue that would have been involved in presenting nine sets of his engravings, so published them initially without letterpress. Ayer/Zimmer 20-21; Copenhagen/Anker 18; Ellis/Mengel 96; McGill/Wood, p. 207. (5)

Five volumes, octavo (262 x 150mm). Half-titles and Birds of America prospectus, reviews, and subscriber lists. Later quarter morocco gilt over marbled boards, black leather spine labels (a little minor scuffing). Provenance: Leeds Phil. & Lit. Society (stamps throughout).