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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

Date1809 (although dated October 1. 1808)

Maker Alexander Wilson (1766-1813)

Publisher Bradford & Inskeep

Printer R. & W. 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 number2018-147,10

DescriptionThis is the second issue of volume 1 of Wilson's nine-volume work. Two hundred copies of the first issue were printed before Wilson embarked on a tour to solicit subscribers. (See 2018-147, 1 for the first issue). When returning to Philadelphia, his subscriber list was long enough to warrant a second printing of the first volume. Three hundred copies were printed of the second issue of volume 1.

The text in the second issue was reset and additions/changes were made to the text-- see 2018-147,10.

The depiction of the Red-bellied woodpecker in Plate VII was also altered after the first edition was printed by changing the position of the head so that the bird is seen attempting to eat an insect that he added to the branch above. This particular copy of the first printing of volume 1, which was likely presented to William Bartram along with volume 2 (inscribed to Bartram--2018-147,2), contains both versions of plate VII.
Label Text2018-147,10- Volume 1- Second issue
Contains a Title page, Preface, Index to the first volume, an Introduction, and
Nine plates illustrating 35 species accompanied by text for each. For each bird, Wilson cited publications in which they had been previously illustrated.

This copy of the second issue is important for its inclusion of both the first and second issues of plate VII. The red bellied Woodpecker in the second issue of plate VII was altered by Mr Lawson. The head was burnished out and reengraved to face in a different direction-- he also added the insect on the branch above the head of the woodpecker.

Plate I
Blue Jay
Goldfinch
Baltimore Oriole

Plate II
Wood Thrush
Robin
White-Breasted, Black-Capt Nuthatch
Red-Bellied Black-Capt Nuthatch

Plate III
Gold-Winged Woodpecker
Black-Throated Bunting
Blue-Bird

Plate IV
Orchard Oriole (illustrating both males and females, males of the second and third years, males with complete plumage, and eggs of the Orchard Oriole and Baltimore Oriole)

Plate V
Great American Strike, or Butcher Bird
Pine Grosbeak
Ruby-Crowned Wren
Shore Lark

Plate VI
Maryland Yellow-Throat
Yellow-Breasted Chat
Summer Red-Bird (male and female)
Indigo Bird
American Redstart

Plate VII
Cedar-Bird
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-Throated Flycatcher
Purple Finch

Plate VIII
Brown Creeper
Golden-Crested Wren
House Wren
Black-Capt Titmouse
Crested Titmouse
Winter Wren

Plate IX
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Yellow-Bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker

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.