CASSIN, JOHN. 1813-1869.
Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1856.
Tall 8vo (262 x 164 mm). viii, 298 pp. With 50 hand-colored lithographed plates by William E. Hitchcock, the first 20 after George G. White. Contemporary full morocco, covers elaborately stamped in blind, five raised bands, gilt spine titles, a.e.g. Scattered light foxing to text, mild rubbing to joints and edges, plates clean and bright.
Provenance: Rowland Gibson Hazard 2nd (armorial bookplate).
FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM. Originally issued in ten parts from 1853-55. As set forth in the preface, the work was "to be regarded in some measure as an addition to the works of former authors in American Ornithology, but at the same time complete in itself." Cassin especially sought to describe birds not known to Audubon. The present copy bears the bookplate of industrialist, Republican congressman, writer and reformer, Rowland G. Hazard (1801-1888). Nissen IVB 173; Sitwell p 85; Wood p 281; Zimmer p 124.
