THE POETICAL WORKS OF ALEXANDER WILSON The American Ornithologist Also His Miscellaneous Prose Writings, Journals, Letters, Essays, Etc., Now First Collected

Exceptionally scarce Belfast-published collected works of the Scots-born poet who emigrated to the US in 1794 and is regarded as the founder or American ornithology and an inspiration for Audubon. Includes fascinating memoir with much on Wilson's life in America and the creation of his nine-volume masterwork, American Ornithology. Frontispiece and engraved title showing Wilson and birds of prey respectively. This, second title and contents rather spotted, but thereafter all is generally clean and bright until the last couple of pages of the glossary and rear endpaper. Block marbled to all edges. Binding tight. Former owner's name neatly to first blank. Well worn half leather with worn marbled paper. Some loss to leather titlepiece. 12mo. xxxviii + 504pp