GOULD, JOHN | A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America. London: Richard & John E. Taylor for the Author, [1844-] 1850

GOULD, JOHN

A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America. London: Richard & John E. Taylor for the Author, [1844-] 1850

Folio (21 1/2 x 14 1/4 in.; 546 x 362 mm). List of subscribers, 32 hand-colored lithographed plates after Gould and H. C. Richter; some toning to text leaves, a few stray spots, generally not affecting images. Early half olive green morocco over green pebbled cloth covered boards, bound for Sotheran's, spine with raised bands in six compartments, lettered in the second and fourth, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; minor rubbing to extremities.

First edition. Gould was inspired to undertake this study "by the sight of several living examples of the beautiful Callipepla Californica, brought home and presented to Zoological Society of London by Captain Beechey in 1830" (preface). Gould's research took him to Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Leipzig, Berlin, Hanover, Amsterdam, and Leiden, and he was subsequently able to more than triple the number of recorded species of this genus. Originally issued in three parts, the Partridges of America was dedicated to Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte, whose own most widely known ornithological work concerned the birds of America.

REFERENCE:

Ayer/Zimmer 257; Copenhagen/Anker 176; Fine Bird Books 78; McGill/Wood 365; Nissen, IVB 376