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Item #40484 The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants. Mark CATESBY.
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The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants

The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, containing the figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants, particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former Authors, with their Descriptions in English and French. To which is prefixed, A new and Correct Map of the Countries; with Observations on their Natural State, Inhabitants, and Productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards... To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the Animals and Plants

London: printed for Benjamin White, 1771. 2 volumes, folio. (22 x 14 3/4 inches). Titles and text in English and French. Hand-colored double-page engraved map of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, 220 fine hand-coloured engraved plates by or after Catesby (plates 61, 80 and 96 in volume II by Georg Dionysius Ehret).

Expertly bound using 18th-century diced half russia and incorporating original marbled paper-covered boards, the spines in eight compartments with raised bands, the bands flanked by double gilt fillets, red morocco lettering-piece in the second compartment, black morocco lettering-piece in the third, uncut

A very fine large uncut copy of an early issue of the third edition (printed on laid paper throughout) of the 'most famous colorplate book of American plant and animal life... a fundamental and original work for the study of American species' (Hunt). A lovely and vastly important work by the founder of American ornithology, this book embodies the most impressive record made during the colonial period of the natural history of an American colony. This is undoubtedly the most significant work of American natural history before Audubon's 'Birds of America'. The colouring of this edition is superior to the 1754 edition.

Catesby writes in the preface of his method of working: 'As I was not bred a Painter, I hope some faults in Perspective, and other niceties, may be more readily excused: for I humbly conceive that Plants, and other Things done in a Flat, if an exact manner, may serve the Purpose of Natural History, better in some Measure, than in a mere bold and Painter-like Way. In designing the Plants, I always did them while fresh and just gathered: and the Animals, particularly the Birds, I painted while alive (except a very few) and gave them their Gestures peculiar to every kind of Birds, and where it could be admitted, I have adapted the Birds to those Plants on which they fed, or have any relation to. Fish, which do not retain their colours when out of their Element, I painted at different times, having a succession of them procured while the former lost their colours... Reptiles will live for many months...so that I had no difficulty in painting them while living.' (Vol. I, p.vi) Trained as a botanist, Catesby travelled to Virginia in 1712 and remained there for seven years, sending back to England collections of plants and seeds. With the encouragement of Sir Hans Sloane and others, Catesby returned to America in 1722 to seek materials for his Natural History; he traveled extensively in Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and the Bahamas, sending back further specimens. His preface provides a lengthy account of the development of this work, including his decision to study with Joseph Goupy in order to learn to etch his plates himself to ensure accuracy and economy. The end result is encyclopedic: Catesby provides information not only on the botany and ornithology of the area, but also on its history, climate, geology and anthropology.

E.G. Allen 'The history of American Ornithology before Audubon' in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, new series, vol.41, part 3 (Philadelphia: October 1951); Anker 95; cf. Dunthorne 72; Ellis/Mengel 478; cf. Fine Bird Books (1990) p.86; cf. Great Flower Books (1990) p.85; cf. Hunt 486 (first edition); Jackson Bird Etchings p.76; Amy Meyers & Margaret Pritchard Empire's Nature, Mark Catesby's New World Vision (Williamsburg, 1998); cf. Nissen BBI 336, IVB 177, ZBI 842; Sabin 11059; Edwin Wolf 2nd, A Flock of Beautiful Birds (Philadelphia, 1977), pp.5-7 (Catesby "was the first to observe and depict North American birds in their natural settings, combining ornithological details with botanic ones"); Wood p.282.

Item #40484

Price: $240,000.00

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