American Ornithology; or, the Natural History of Birds inhabiting the United States not given by Wilson. Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell; Carey & Lea, 1825-1828-1833. Volumes I, III and IV only (of 4). Folio (vol I, 377 x 295 mm; vols III and IV, 393 x 310 mm). 21 hand-colored engraved plates. Margins of vols III and IV uncut. Period red half morocco, tooled in gilt. Some spotting to plates in vol I, some offsetting of text to plates in vol III, two plates loosely inserted in vol IV, bindings scuffed and with extremities rubbed, vol I with some damage to spine at head and foot.
Provenance: Stephen Minot Weld, Sr. [1806–1867], of Jamaica Plain, Boston (booklabels).

FIRST EDITION of Bonaparte's continuation of Wilson's "American Ornithology." This part set has the first issue of vol I, with the Mitchell imprint. Bonaparte's original intention had been to publish the work in three volumes (these appeared between 1825 and 1828). The fourth volume was only published some five years later. Cf. Nissen IVB 116; cf. Sabin 6264; cf. Wood 247; cf. Zimmer 64.