Zoology of New York, or the New-York fauna: by De Kay, James E.; John William Hill - 1842-44 comprising detailed descriptions of all the animals hitherto observed within the state of New York ... accompanied by appropriate illustrations.

Albany: Carroll and Cook, printers to the Assembly, and others,, 1842-44. First edition. Good+. Six parts in 5 volumes. 30 cm. I. Introduction, Mammalia, 33 lithograph plates. II. Birds, 141 hand-colored lithograph plates. III and IV. Reptiles and Amphibia and Fishes in two volumes, text volume and plate volume, with 23 lithograph plates of herp species, and 79 plates of fish. V and VI. Mollusca and Crustacea, with 40 hand-colored lithograph plates of molluscs and 13 hand-colored lithograph plates of crustaceans. All volumes in original cloth bindings stamped in gilt with an appropriate figure on the spine (a deer on the mammals volume, a snake on the reptiles volumes, etc.). Three volumes bear the seal of the State of New York on the upper board, while the remaining two, birds and molluscs, bear a figure of a bird and a shell respectively. Conditions vary, with the bird volume suffering from a chipped and flaked spine. Slight fraying at head of the volume on mammals, an on the plate volume of reptiles and fish. Other volumes effectively in very good condition. All volumes are intact and entire. Scattered foxing varies throughout, as usual with these volumes. With the exception of the spine of the bird volumes, this is quite a presentable set.

A good full set of Dr. De Kay's massive accomplishment, achieved with the help fo the Nyack artist John William Hill. De Kay and Hill spent years in the field observing species and collecting images for this monumental survey that eventually inaugurated the 30-volume Natural History of New York.

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