JEFFERSON, Thomas, President . Autograph note signed ("Th: Jefferson") as President, to the ornithologist Alexander Wilson Washington, D.C., 9 October 1807. 1 page, 4to, integral autograph address leaf, addressed in Jefferson's hand, WITH FREE FRANK SIGNATURE: "Free Th: Jefferson Pr. US," circular with postmark "Washington 9 Oct," and "FREE" stamp, minor repairs, ink of letter slightly pale. JEFFERSON SUBSCRIBES TO ALEXANDER WILSON'S American Ornithology To the pioneer ornithologist Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), Jefferson, a keen amateur ornithologist himself, writes in the third person: "Th: Jefferson having a few days ago only received a copy of the printed proposals for publishing a work on American ornithology by Mr Wilson, begs leave to become a subscriber to it, satisfied it will give us valuable new matter as well as correct the errors of what we possessed before. He salutes Mr Wilson with great respect." Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), born in rural Scotland, emigrated to the U.S. in 1794 and established himself as a schoolmaster. Influenced by the great naturalist William Bartram he determined in 1802 to dedicate himself to ornithology and spent the rest of his life in the compilation of a comprehensive work on American birds, many of which had not yet been adequately described. His American Ornithology (1808-14), remained the definitive work on the subject until superseded by John James Audubon's Birds of America (1827-38).
JEFFERSON, Thomas, President . Autograph note signed ("Th: Jefferson") as President, to the ornithologist Alexander Wilson Washington, D.C., 9 October 1807. 1 page, 4to, integral autograph address leaf, addressed in Jefferson's hand, WITH FREE FRANK SIGNATURE: "Free Th: Jefferson Pr. US," circular with postmark "Washington 9 Oct," and "FREE" stamp, minor repairs, ink of letter slightly pale. JEFFERSON SUBSCRIBES TO ALEXANDER WILSON'S American Ornithology To the pioneer ornithologist Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), Jefferson, a keen amateur ornithologist himself, writes in the third person: "Th: Jefferson having a few days ago only received a copy of the printed proposals for publishing a work on American ornithology by Mr Wilson, begs leave to become a subscriber to it, satisfied it will give us valuable new matter as well as correct the errors of what we possessed before. He salutes Mr Wilson with great respect." Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), born in rural Scotland, emigrated to the U.S. in 1794 and established himself as a schoolmaster. Influenced by the great naturalist William Bartram he determined in 1802 to dedicate himself to ornithology and spent the rest of his life in the compilation of a comprehensive work on American birds, many of which had not yet been adequately described. His American Ornithology (1808-14), remained the definitive work on the subject until superseded by John James Audubon's Birds of America (1827-38).
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