The Birds of America, from Original Drawings by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Societies of London & Edinburgh and of the Linnæan & Zoölogical Societies of London, Member of the Natural History Society of Paris, of the Lyceum of New York, &c. &c. &c. 4 vols. colored plates, double elephant folio. Published by the Author. London, 1827-1838.
Issued without text, titles excepted, to subscribers, in 87 Numbers of 5 plates each, or 435 copper-plate engravings, colored by hand, and representing 1,065 life-size figures of 489 supposedly distinct species of birds. Titles the same, except that in volumes II-IV, after "New York," in list of societies following author's name, is added, "of the Philosophical Society and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia." Begun at Edinburgh in autumn of 1826, and completed in London, June 20, 1838.
A more detailed citation is:
| Vol. | I. | Parts | 1-22, | pll. | i- | cx, | 1827-30. |
| Vol. | II. | Parts | 23-44, | pll. | cxi- | ccxx, | 1831-34. |
| Vol. | III. | Parts | 45-66, | pll. | ccxxi- | cccxxx, | 1834-35. |
| Vol. | IV. | Parts | 67-87, | pll. | cccxxxi- | ccccxxxv, | 1835-38. |
More exact data on publication of individual plates are:
| 1827 | pll. | 1- 25 |
| 1828 | pll. | 26- 50 |
| 1829 | pll. | 51- 75 |
| 1830 | pll. | 76-100 |
| 1831 | pll. | 101(?)-125 |
| 1832 | pll. | 126-155(?) |
| 1833 | pll. | 156-185 |
| 1834 | pll. | 186-235 |
| 1835 | pll. | 236-285 |
| 1836 | pll. | 286-350 |
| 1837 | pll. | 351-400 |
| 1838 | pll. | 400[401]-435 |
The first ten plates were executed by William Home Lizars, Edinburgh, 1826-7, but were later retouched or reëngraved (?) by Robert Havell, Junior, who produced all the rest in London; printed on Whatman's drawing paper, size (untrimmed), 39½ x 29½ inches, and colored after the originals. A considerable number of the plain plates were dispersed, and at least one complete set exists in this state (see [Note, Chapter XXVI, Vol. II, p. 7], and also [Chapter XXXII, Vol. II, p. 190]); scientific and common names, with legends of author and engraver, and eventually the date of publication, were given on each plate. Issued to subscribers at two guineas a Part, and sold in Europe at £182, 14s; in America, at $1,000. The Turkey Cock (Plate No. 1) now brings upwards of $140, and perfect sets upwards of $4,000, according to binding and state. Total number of original sets probably did not exceed 190 or 200.
2. Audubon, John James, F. R. SS. L. & E. [with list of societies]:
Ornithological Biography, or an account of the habits of the Birds of the United States of America; accompanied by descriptions of the objects represented in the work entitled The Birds of America, and interspersed with delineations of American scenery and manners. 5 vols. roy. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1831-1839.