(Ornithology) - AUDUBON, John James The birds of America, from drawings made in the United States and their territories. New York, J.J. Audubon; Philadelphia, J.B. Chevalier, 1840-1844 7 vol., 8vo: 256, 205, 233-[1], 321-[1], 346-[1], 457-[1], [1-1 bl.]-371-[1] pp., 500 pl. (pl. overall in good condition, some corners and margins with faint waterstains or occ. toning, pl. 465 cut short shaving the plate's nr.). Hardgrained half leather with corners signed Dubois d'Engien (corners sl. rubbed), marbled paper on covers, gilt orn. spines on 5 raised bands (spines faded), marbled endpapers, sprinkled edges. Nice set. First octavo edition of this splendid and tremendously successful work on the birds of America by the American ornithologist, naturalist and painter J.J. Audubon (1785-1851). Complete with 500 hand-coloured lithographic plates after Audubon, printed and coloured by J.T. Bowen depicting one species per plate; several ills in texto. Half title and list of subscribers in each vol. "First and most desirable edition in this form during the author's lifetime" (Sabin). Similar to the previous Double Elephant Folio edition, this edition was designed to be available "at such price, as would enable every student or lover of nature to place it in his library" (introduction). The work is often described as the most extensive colour plate book produced in America up to that time. This edition expanded both the number of plates and the variety of species depicted and shown for the first time. Ref. Nissen (IVB) 51. - Sabin 2364. - Casey A. Wood p. 207. - Not in Bn-Opale plus.