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Alexander Wilson met William Bartram, the American naturalist and artist, who encouraged Wilson’s interest in ornithology. So inspired, Wilson taught himself to draw and embarked on the work that was not only to take the rest of his life, but also predated Audubon’s Birds of America. Wilson spent ten years of his life traveling widely in the eastern United States, discovering 26 previously unknown species. The first edition of American Ornithology was printed from 1808-1814. Sadly, Wilson died in 1813 before the completion of the publication and it was completed by George Ord.
This 1832 edition is octavo size, with vivid hand coloring
enhanced by gum arabic. Each print measures approximately 5 1/2 wide by
8 1/2 inches long. |
