John J. Audubon's Birds of America

Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 cn; Lizars, W. H. (William Home), 1788-1859. illus.; Havell, Robert, 1793-1878.; Perkins, Thomas Handasyd, 1764-1854, former owner.; Boston Society of Natural History former owner.;

London : Pub. by the author; 1827-38

 

Printed between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America contains 435 life-size prints of North American birds which were all reproduced from hand-engraved plates and colored by hand.
 

In an effort to finance his project, Audubon went to Philadelphia and New York in 1823 to sell subscriptions to his book. Those who subscribed received five plates at a time: three smaller birds, one mid-size bird, and one larger bird. It is thought that no more than 120 complete sets exist today - and one of them is housed at the USC Libraries. 

 

USC Libraries' copy has a binding with inscription "presented to the Boston Society of Natural History by the Hon. Thomas H. Perkins."