Birds of America (signed by William Vogt, who wrote the foreword)
NY: MacMillan, 1937. First thus. Hardcover. Inscribed (to no recipient) and dated in the year of publication on the front free endpaper by William Vogt, who wrote the six-page foreword and the ornithological descriptive text below each of Audubon's plates with details of the species' range, habitat, identification, breeding, and food. Uncommon signed, and Vogt's signature is uncommon in general. Vogt was an important early-century ornithologist, ecologist, and ornithologist, best known for his book The Road to Survival (1948) that outlined especially the specter of overpopulation. Historian Charles C. Mann argues that Vogt "laid out the basic ideas for the modern environmental movement." But here he is in his first birdy element. On the front pastedown is the slight rumpled bookplate of Reuben Jay Flick, a Pennsylania/New York City industrialist. All five hundred plates from Audubon's original royal octavo edition (which was increased from 435 in the elephant folio) are included in book in full color. Quarto in sage-green cloth with a gilt illustrations and lettering. Index at rear. Very good with a little sunning/darkening to spine that dulls the gilt there and a touch of rubbing to corners, but not much. Lacking the dust jacket which seems scarce in the first printing. A nice association. Very good. Item #2150
Price: $825.00 save 5% $783.75