22
Catesby’s natural history of Carolina.
2. vols.
fol.
1815 Catalogue, page 45. no. C, as above,
2 v g fol.
CATESBY, M
ark.
The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands: Containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents,
insects, and plants: particularly, those not hitherto described, or incorrectly figured by former authors, with their descriptions
in
English and
French. To which is prefixed, a new and correct map of the countries; with observations on their natural state, inhabitants, and
productions. By the late Mark Catesby, F.R.S. Revised by Mr. Edwards, of the Royal College of Physicians, London. To the whole is now added a Linnaean Index of the animals and plants. Volume
the First [-Second]. Histoire naturelle de la Caroline, de la Floride, et des isles de Bahama: contenant . . .
London: Printed for
Benjamin White,
1771.
2 vol. Large folio. 220 colored illustrations,
English and
French text in parallel columns.
Sabin 11509.
De Renne I, 197.
Anker 111, no. 94.
The 1831 and 1849 Library catalogues credit the Jefferson collection with the
third edition of this work, which has therefore been described here, though it is possibly an error. The copy numbered C. from
the 1815 catalogue is on the manuscript list of missing books from the Library of Congress made after 1815.
Jefferson bought a copy of the
second edition published in 1741 from
Froullé in 1789, having previously bought a copy of the
first edition for
500 livres, and which he exchanged for a copy of the
second. The price given in the undated manuscript catalogue is
500 (livres).
At the end of Froullé’s bill, of which the last date is May 7, 1789, is the entry: “
Difference entre le Catesby en maroquin rouge I
re edition qui etoit payé 500 et la 2
de edition, demireliure
}
30.”
Jefferson had been interested in buying the Bolling copy of this work. On January 14, 1783, he wrote from Philadelphia to
Francis Eppes: “
. . . since I came here there has been sold the Westover copy of Catesby’s History of Carolina. it was held near a twelve-month
at twelve guineas, and at last sold for ten. this seems to fix what should be given for m
(
~
r)
Bolling’s copy, if you can induce him to let me have it, which I am very anxious for. perhaps it would be a temptation to
offer that the ten guineas should be paid to m
(
~
r)
Ross’s agent at Nantes, where he could lay them out and send the articles to m(
~
r)
Bolling. his draft shall be paid on sight in Paris. perhaps you had better effect this by making the proposition to mrs.
Bolling. of this your knowledge of the family will enable you to judge . . .
”
The catalogue of the Westover library does not record the edition.
In the
Notes on Virginia
Jefferson gives a table of 93 birds with Catesby’s designation, the Linnaean designation, the popular names, and references
to Buffon
oiseaux in parallel columns. Of Catesby he writes:
Between ninety and a hundred of our birds have been described by Catesby. His drawings are better as to form and attitude
than coloring which is generally too high.
In Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, the references to Buffon’s Oiseaux do not appear in the first edition privately printed in Paris. The table in that edition contains only Catesby’s designation, the Linnaean, and the popular names. Buffon is first added in Stockdale’s London edition, 1787.
In the Jefferson Papers in the Massachusetts Historical Society (which contain Jefferson’s autograph draft of the Notes on Virginia) are 4 pages written by Jefferson headed: Birds and other animals of Virginia undescribed by Catesby & annotations on some of his articles.
The Bollings were closely related to the Jeffersons through the marriage of Jefferson’s sister to John Bolling. The first Bolling, Robert, to emigrate from Yorkshire to America arrived in 1660 and married Jane Rolph, the granddaughter of Pocahontas.
