Audubon, John James | A handsome copy of The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America

Property from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, sold to benefit future acquisitions

Audubon, John James

The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. New York: J.J. Audubon, 1845-1846-1848-1851

3 vols., folio (705 x 540 mm). Title-pages, contents leaves, 150 handcolored lithographed plates by J.J. Audubon and J.W. Audubon, backgrounds after Audubon, lithography by J.T. Bowen; titles and contents leaves foxed as usual, the first 5 plates of Volume I evenly trimmed by an inch at lower margin, else only one plate with marginal finger soiling and two others (the Fisher and the Beaver) with some marginal spotting, Jaguar plate in Volume III deeply creased, and some faint offsetting to another, the second volume with light crease to first plate and either some marginal spotting or smudging to only 4 others, but generally a very clean and well-preserved example of the plates. Contemporary red crushed quarter morocco and marbled boards, gilt spine titles; generally rubbed and scuffed with old shelf labels to spines.