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
DateMay 1, 1814
Maker
Alexander Wilson
(1766-1813)
Publisher
Bradford & Inskeep
Printer
Robert and William Carr
Edited by
George Ord
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 number2018-147,9
Label Text2018-147, 9- Volume 9Contains a Title page, a Preface by George Ord, a lengthy "Biographical Sketch of Alexander Wilson" written by George Ord, a "List of the Water Birds of the United States," an Index to the ninth volume, and 4 plates illustrating 13 species accompanied by text for each. Following the last plate, additional text is provided for three birds illustrated in previous volumes. There is a general index to the entire work, and a list of subscribers.
Plate LXXIII
Common Coot
Purple Gallinule
Gray Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Wilson's Plover
Plate LXXIV
Black-Bellied Darter, or Snake-Bird
Female Black-Bellied Darter
Great Northern Diver, or LoonBlack-Headed Gull
Little Auk
Plate LXXV
Turkey Vulture, or Turkey-Buzzard
Black Vulture, or Carrion-Crow
Raven
Plate LXXVI
Great Footed Hawk
Additional text for Plate XXX (Volume 4)
Lesser Red-Poll
Additional text for Plate XXXVI (Volume 4)
Bald Eagle
Additional text for Plate LXVIII (Volume 8)
Goosander
InscribedInscription on the inside of the front board "John Lord"
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.
