CATESBY, MARK. 1683-1749. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: Cont...

CATESBY, MARK. 1683-1749. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants... Revis'd by Mr. Edwards. London: C. Marsh, 1754. 2 volumes, folio (524 x 373 mm) Titles printed in red and black. Dedication and index leaves in each volume. Text in English and French. Descriptions printed in 2 columns. Hand-colored double-page engraved map; 220 hand-colored etched plates by and after Catesby and most signed with his monogram, except for plates 61 and 96 in vol 2 by Georg Dionysius Ehret; etched head-pieces. 20 text leaves of volume 2 with attempted corrections to plate numbers by hand, as usual, occasional light text offset to plates and/or pigment offset to text, scattered light foxing or spotting, folding map with short clean split along mount. Contemporary diced russia, each spine with gilt lettered back morocco lettering piece, some wear to joints, edges, spine and spine ends. 20 text leaves of volume 2 with attempted corrections to plate numbers by hand, as usual, occasional light text offset to plates and/or pigment offset to text, scattered light foxing or spotting, folding map with short clean split along mount. Provenance: armorial bookplate (name erased). 'THE MOST FAMOUS COLORPLATE BOOK OF AMERICAN PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE AND A FUNDAMENTAL AND ORIGINAL WORK FOR THE STUDY OF AMERICAN SPECIES' (Hunt). Second edition, first edition of the text revised by George Edwards, THIS COPY WITH PARTICULARLY VIVID COLOR. Catesby spent from 1712 to 1719 in Virginia and returned to England with an impressive collection of plants. His work attracted the notice of Sir Hans Sloane who helped fund Catesby's second trip to Carolina, Georgia, Florida and the Bahamas from 1722 to 1729. Catesby again returned to England and prepared this natural history. To reduce costs, Catesby learned to etch the plates himself. Most remarkably, he prepared his compositions to depict birds, butterflies and other animals in their natural settings. He was the first natural historian to combine ornithological details with botanical ones. The first edition was published in parts and completed in 1747? the earliest color plate book on American birds. Its popularity was such that this second edition was undertaken, edited by George Edwards. Anker 95; Ellis/Mengel 478; Fine Bird Books p 65; Hunt 486 (first edition); Nissen IVB 177; Sabin 11509; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 1057; Wolf pp 5-7. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing