First published 1845-1853 in folio format, with title: The viviparous quadrupeds of North America.
Royal octavo edition, issued in 31 parts, and originally sold by subscription. This edition was prepared by Victor Gifford Audubon and John Woodhouse Audubon.
The original printed wrappers offer the following prospectus: "The present will be a miniature copy of the large edition ... Each number will contain five plates ... the work will be completed in thirty numbers ...."
Plates signed variously: drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon and J.W. Audubon; drawn on stone by R. Trembly and W.E. Hitchcock; colored by J. Lawrence; printed by Nagel & Weingærtner, N.Y.; and printed & col'd by J.T. Bowen, Philad[elphi]a.
"H. Ludwig & Co., printers"--verso of t.p in v. 1; "R. Craighead, printer and stereotyper"--verso of t.p. in v. 3; v. 2 lacks printer statement.
Collation: v. 1 (nos. 1-10): viii, 383 p., plates I-L; v. 2 (nos. 11-20): [4], 334 p., plates LI-C; v. 3 (nos. 21-31): [2], v, 348 p., plates CI-CLV.