Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$1400.00 + shipping
Description: Tall 8vo., (10 7/8 x 7 ¼ inches). Vignette title page (a bit spotted throughout). Fine chromolithographed frontispiece, 9 chromolithographed plates, 2 full-page wood engravings, numerous in-text wood engravings throughout (some spotting). Modern green library cloth with contemporary morocco spine label gilt (some rubbing). First edition. All published of an intended series. For Webber, the "hunter-naturalist" was a combination of the primitive and the scientific, a man who "knows nature through the medium of his own sense." 5 of the chromolithographed plates by famed Western artist Alfred Jacob Miller. Includes 2 chapters on Audubon, while the last 75 pages are devoted to big game hunting in southern Africa. THE FIRST CHROMOLITHOGRAPH ILLUSTRATIONS TO APPEAR IN AN AMERICAN BOOK, as well as the first time Miller's chromolithographs were published in a book. "The colored lithographs were the first to appear in an American book. Because of this, the angling collector must compete not only with Americana collectors, but those who collect early color work.very scarce" (Bruns). "Most of the letters are entitled: 'Letters from the sporting grounds.' Three letters of October 3 in the Courier were not reprinted in the Spirit. They are critical of the landlords of Lake Pleasant. Webber complains that local guides saved the best fishing for a few favored gentleman sportsmen, and duped the rest of the tourists" (Henderson, p. 250). Howes W-196 'aa.' Henderson, pp. 249-250.
Seller: Arader Galleries - AraderNYC, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$1850.00 + shipping
Description: First edition. Recased in black leather spine lettered in gilt, retaining the original pebbled dark brown original cloth-covered boards and leather tips filleted in gilt. 610 pps. With 10 color lithos(Howes W196 calls for 9 only; this volume contains the color plate of elephants at p.536, apparently not found in all volumes), Five of these are by Alfred Jacob Miller (who was not credited until the second edition appeared the following tear). THE FIRST CHROMOLITHOGRAPH ILLUSTRATIONS TO APPEAR IN AN AMERICAN BOOK, Additional black and whire engravings at chapter headings and in the text and as full page plates. Light foxing to the tissue guards and the edges of the color plates. Occasional bit of light foxing in the margins otherwise a tight, fairly clean example. Calligraphy-inscribed contemporary 19th century prev. own, name and address on front free endpaper.
Seller: Old Book Shop of Bordentown (ABAA, ILAB), Bordentown, NJ, U.S.A.