In Original Parts
The Quadrupeds of North America.
New York: V. G. Audubon, 1849-1851-1854.
First octavo edition in the original parts. 31 original parts. 155 hand-colored lithographed plates by W.E. Hitchcock and R. Trembly after J.J. and John Wodehouse Audubon. Vol. 1 title and half title bound at front of no. 1, vol. 2 title at end of no. 21 and vol. 3 title and half-title at end of no. 31. Indexes in parts 10, 21 and 31. Royal 8vo (10 x 6-7/8 inches). In Original Parts. Publisher's wrappers, some staining to wrappers, wear to spines as expected, a few becoming detached, a couple with minor chips. Age toning to text and plates, a few with some foxing or minor stanining. Housed in a cloth box. Provenance: D. T. Valentine (signature on part 12); J. L. Valentine (partially printed receipt issued by V.G. Audubon to Valentine for the purchase of part 30 of the Quadrupeds, laid in) Wood, p. 208; Nissen, ZBI, 163; Reese, Stamped with a National Character 38; Sabin 2368; Bennett, p. 5. Item #352658
The first octavo edition of Audubon’s Quadrupeds, including five plates not found in the folio edition, Audubon's final great contribution to natural history includes plates and descriptions of the quadrupeds of the United States, including Texas, California, and Oregon, as well as part of Mexico, the British and Russian possessions, and Arctic regions.
Audubon's collaborator on the Quadrupeds was naturalist and Lutheran clergyman John Bachman, who had studied quadrupeds since he was a young man and was a recognized authority on the subject in the United States. The two began their association when Audubon stayed with Bachman and his family in Charleston for a month in 1831, and this friendship was later cemented by the marriage of Victor and John W. Audubon to Bachman's daughters, Maria and Eliza. With the success of the octavo edition of The Birds of America in mind, a similar edition of the Quadrupeds was envisaged from an early stage. The folio edition was published in thirty numbers between 1845 and 1854; the publication of the first octavo edition began in 1849 and was completed in 1854 in thirty-one parts. Unfortunately, Audubon did not live to see the completion of either project, and after his death in January 1851 the work was seen through to completion by his son, John Woodhouse Audubon.
The Prospectus, printed on the back wrappers, states that "The present will be a miniature copy of the large edition, with figures and descriptions of the QUADRUPEDS of the United States, (including Texas, California, and Oregon), part of Mexico, the British and Russian Possessions and Arctic regions of our continent. Each number will contain five plates, lithographed in a superior style and carefully coloured from the original drawings. The numbers will be delivered to subscribers at intervals of not less than one month, and the work will be completed in thirty numbers."
Sets in the original parts are extremely rare, particularly with all the wrappers present. The present set with provenance to David T. Valentine, the long-time clerk of the New York Common Council best remembered for his eponymous Manuals.
Price: $22,500.00 Free International Delivery
