A pioneer mammalogist and ornithologist who died about 90 years ago,
he is well known today in natural history circles for the rich legacy he has left us.
His accomplishments include:
Co-founder and president of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU)
Co-founder of the American Museum of Natural History
Co-founder and vice president of the Zoological Society of France
Curator of zoology, Chicago’s Field Museum
The Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal was established in his name by his family
(Awarded for meritorious work in zoology or paleontology)
Last, but not least, were his magnificent folio natural history books which were
intended for scientists but so lavishly produced that only the wealthy
could afford them. Today these books range in price from $45,000.00
to $200,000.00
As a long-time enthusiast of Daniel Giraud Elliot I offer a rare opportunity to own individual plates from his classic
“New and Heretofore Unfigured Species of the Birds of North America”
published in 15 parts from 1866 to 1869
(during the period that Russian America was purchased and renamed ‘Alaska’).
This kind of book was not published in a week!
Elliot’s idea was to create a supplement to Audubon’s Birds of America. Many of these new species were from Alaska, hence this fabulously rare volume has attained legendary status among Alaska ornithologists, birders, and collectors of Alaska natural history. To purchase the entire volume today is beyond the means of most collectors. Because of the great labor and expense involved in producing entirely hand-colored lithographic plates, Elliot’s New and Heretofore Unfigured Species of the Birds of North America has the distinction of being the LAST great hand-colored book produced in America! Very few sets were published. Don’t miss this opportunity to own an important piece of early Alaska history.
The plates offered here come from established print collections and we do not, never have, and never will break up an existing volume.
