The Butterflies of North America, in 2 volumes (first series and second series)

Pp. (unpaginated), circa 1000+ pages, 101 fine hand-colored plates (the color plates are un-numbered). Publisher’s original one-half black morocco leather, spine with 5 raised bands, lettered in gilt in two compartments, and with elaborate floral decorations in the other four compartments, over deep wine red cloth-covered boards that are tooled in gilt, original fine marbled endpapers, all page edges in gilt, sm folio (11 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches; 299 x 245 mm). This work is a landmark study in North American Lepidoptera. The hand-colored plates in the work are superb. A third volume labeled ‘third series’ was published in 1897. William Henry Edwards (March 15, 1822 – April 4, 1909) was an important entomologist in the United States. He is remembered for his trip to the Amazon in 1846, which he recorded in his book ‘A Voyage up the River Amazon, with a residency at Para (1847) that inspired Alfred Russel Wallace and Henry Walter Bates to make their famous trips to the region (after Wiki). Edward’s work ‘The Butterflies of North America’ was the first complete survey of the butterfly fauna of North America. This work has become very scarce. No ownership marks (former owner’s bookplate removed from front attached endpaper of each volume).