Born ten years before the American Revolution in Paisley, Scotland, Alexander Wilson was a weaver of silk and a widely published poet who ultimately found himself jailed for libel and publicly disgraced. Frustrated and penniless, in 1794 he emigrated to the United States and established himself in Philadelphia.

Inspired by the vast unsettled frontier, Wilson's interests turned to the scientific study of birds. The first comprehensive work published on the subject, his American Ornithology added 39 new species to those previously known and earned him the title "Father of American Ornithology". Far more accurate and painterly than anyone who preceded him, his engravings and descriptions were well recognized in his lifetime. Thomas Jefferson, an early subscriber, was among his supporters. Wilson never recovered from his last exhausting river crossing in pursuit of an elusive specimen. He died at age 47, one volume short of completing American Ornithology.

Comprised of 76 hand-colored engravings, American Ornithology depicts 262 species of birds. We offer a complete selection of Wilson's work. All plates are in excellent condition. These museum-quality hand-colored engravings remain very affordable. In fact, we feel that Wilson's work is undervalued and represents an excellent opportunity for the collector of early-American natural history art.