Large 8vo (279 x 191 mm). 50 hand-colored plates by J.T. Bowen after William E. Hitchcock and George G. White. (Small stain on frontispiece near lettering, occasional spotting and toning to text.) Original dark brown cloth, gilt-lettered spine (recased with renewed endpapers, spine ends repaired).

FIRST EDITION of Cassin's ornithological work, first published in parts between July 1853 and June 1855 (with a title-page issued in 1856), that included species not described by Audubon or other American naturalists. The author intended the work to complement the octavo edition of Audubon's Birds of America: "At first the Audubons were receptive...however, Cassin wanted shared credit on the title page and a free hand in correcting the errors of nomenclature of the elder Audubon, a touchy point with the sons. In the end, Cassin went on his own, although clearly following the Audubon format and also using J.T. Bowen as lithographer" (Reese). American Color Plate Books 42; Anker 92; Bennett p.21; Cowan p.110; Fine Bird Books p.85; Lada-Mocarski 144; Nissen IVB 173; Sabin 11369; Wickersham 704; Wood p. 281; Zimmer, p.124-25.