Beschreibung:

RICHARDSON, John (1787-1865), SWAINSON, William (1789-1855) and KIRBY, William (1759-1850). Fauna Boreali-Americana; or the Zoology of the Northern Parts of British America . London: John Murray [vols. 1 and 2]; Richard Bentley [vol. 3]; and Norwich: Josiah Fletcher [vol. 4], 1829-31. The first edition complete and uniform set of this authority on North American wildlife. Richardson accompanied Sir John Franklin on his overland expeditions to northern Canada as naturalist and surgeon, adding much useful knowledge to the natural history of the fur-trading regions. These four volumes include the results of his observations: "The influence which this work exerted cannot well be overstated ... it was the unique source of inspiration of numberless writers upon the same subject, and it continues to be a standard authority" (E. Coues, American Ornithological Biography , Washington 1878-80, vol. 1, p. 50). William Swainson co-authored the second volume and William Kirby authored the last. Arctic Bib. 14491; Ayer/Zimmer 520; Copenhagen/Anker 493; Coues 1:50; Jackson Lithography, p. 28; McGill/Wood 536; Nissen IVB 773; Nissen ZBI 3385; Sabin 71026; Streeter sale 3700; TPL 1454. Four volumes, quarto (275 x 212mm). Half-titles (except vol. 3). Errata slip in vol. 2. 110 plates, of which 72 are colored being the birds, insects and the majority of the fish (scattered foxing, mostly at ends and to the uncolored plates). Contemporary calf (rebacked with worn original spines laid down, rubbing to edges, endleaves foxed). Provenance : Earl of Bradford, Shropshire (Weston Library bookplates) – Reg & Philip Remington, Books.