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Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
Books 2018-147

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature

DateAugust 12, 1812
Maker Alexander Wilson (1766-1813)
Publisher Bradford & Inskeep
Printer Robert and William Carr
OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
MediumBlack and white line engravings colored by hand, text pages, bound with leather spines and marbleized boards
Dimensions11" (h) X 14" (h) X 3/4"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2018-147,6
Description

Label Text2018-147, 6- Volume 6
Contains a Title page, Preface with a List of the Land Birds of the United States that served as an index to the previous 5 volumes. Blank spaces were left so that the volumes containing the land birds yet unpublished (awaiting good specimens) could be added in manuscript. There is an index to the birds in the sixth volume, and
nine plates illustrating 25 species accompanied by text for each. For each bird, Wilson cited publications in which they had been previously illustrated.

Plate XLVI
Slate-Colored Hawk
Ground Dove (male and female0

Plate XLVII
Snipe
Quail, or Partridge

Plate XLVIII
Rail
Woodcock

Plate XLIX
Ruffed Grous

Plate L
Great Horned-Owl
White, or Barn Owl
Small-Headed Flycatcher
Hawk Owl

Plate LI
Marsh Hawk
Swallow-Tailed Hawk
Long-Eared Owl

Plate LII
Red-Tailed Hawk
American Buzzard, or White-Breasted Hawk
Ash-Colored, or Black-Cap Hawk

Plate LIII
Black Hawk
Black Hawk (variety)
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Female Baltimore Oriole
Female Towhee Bunting

Plate LIV
Broad-Winged Hawk
Chuck-Will's Widow
Cape-May Warbler
Female Black-Poll Warbler
InscribedInscription on the inside of the front board "John Ford"


Inscription on the front flyleaf of Volume 1, second issue, October 1, 1808:
"This Copyof the first two volumes of the ornithology was purchased in Paisley when procuring information and materials for the Biography of Wilson. on shewing them to Mr. Ord while at Jardine Hall in 1855, he recognized the hand writing of Wilson on the title of the 2nd volume and considered it as one of the very first copies of the work coloured by Wilson's own hand. The first copy he presented to his father, the second to his friend Bartram-- This Edition is remarkable also in plate VII, in the later editions the red bellied Woodpecker in plate VII was not considered fortunate in attitude was altered bu Mr Lawson as may be seen on comparing the annexed plate copied from the second edition with that in this volume. The attitude of the head was erased and reengraved-- the Insect on the Branch on which the cedar Bird is perched added
Jardine Hall
oct. 3d 1855"
ProvenanceVolumes 1 and 2 were presented to William Bartram (the inscription is in volume 2). Presumably Bartram was presented with the first issue of volume 1. The two copies of volume 1 and 2 were then owned by William Jardine (see the inscription in on the endpaper of volume 2). Volumes 3-9 are inscribed "John Ford." The entire set, including the Bonapart volumes, the original watercolor, and 2 manuscript letters were owned by Dr. Evan Morton Evans (1870-1955) and his son Daniel Webster Evans (1907-1966). The most recent owner, prior to being purchased by Colonial Williamsburg, was New York collector Gilbert Butler.
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
September 12, 1811
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
September 1, 1808
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
February 12, 1812
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
March 1, 1813
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
1809 (although dated October 1. 1808)
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
February 12, 1811
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
January 1, 1810
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
May 1, 1814
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES: ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES Engraved and Colored from Original Drawings taken from Nature
January 19, 1814
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS INHABITATING THE UNITED STATES NOT GIVEN BY WILSON. WITH FIGURES DRAWN, ENGRAVED, AND COLOURED, FROM NATURE.
1825
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS INHABITATING THE UNITED STATES NOT GIVEN BY WILSON. WITH FIGURES DRAWN, ENGRAVED, AND COLOURED, FROM NATURE.
1828
Books 2018-147
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY; OR THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIRDS INHABITATING THE UNITED STATES NOT GIVEN BY WILSON. WITH FIGURES DRAWN, ENGRAVED, AND COLOURED, FROM NATURE.
1833