The Birds of America, from Drawings made in the United States and their Territories. New York: J.J. Audubon. Philadelphia: J.B. Chevalier, [1839]-40-44.
7 volumes. 8vo (258 x 153 mm). Half-titles, subscribers' lists. 500 hand-colored lithographed plates after Audubon by W.E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly and others.
[WITH]: AUDUBON AND JOHN BACHMAN. The Quadrupeds of North America. New York: V.G. Audubon, 1849-51-54.
3 volumes. 8vo (260 x 167 mm). Half-title in volumes 1 & 3. 155 hand-colored lithographed plates after J.J. and John Wodehouse Audubon by W.E. Hitchcock and R. Trembly.
Together, 10 volumes. Uniform period diced red calf, covers gilt with triple fillet, spines gilt in six compartments with raised bands, all edges gilt. Very mild intermittent foxing to text and tissue guards, plates generally extremely clean, a few with offsetting from text, rebacked with lightly worn original spines laid down, front hinge of vol 2 (Quads) cracked.
Provenance: A.M. Ward (ownership inscription to first volume).

THE FIRST OCTAVO EDITIONS OF AUDUBON'S BIRDS AND QUADRUPEDS: A RARE UNIFORM SET. Audubon's royal octavo edition of the Birds was the most extensive American color plate work of the time; at 500 plates it contained 65 images not present in the elephant folio. The success of the octavo edition cemented Audubon's reputation and encouraged him to begin work on the imposing Quadrupeds, with his friend Reverend Bachman supplying the text. A matched set of both works, in 19th century red calf and perhaps bound for the original owner. Nissen IVB 51, ZBI 163; Reese American Color Plate Books 34, 38; Sabin 2364, 2638.