Audubon birds of america first edition

For the intriguing story behind this edition, the reader is referred to the excellent book, audubon s great national work, the royal octavo edition of the birds of america, by ron tyler. The first edition was the only one to be completed using strictly handcoloring. In his introduction to the first edition, audubon says that it was his desire to bring the birds of america out at such a price, as would enable every student or lover of nature to place it in his library. Audubon was striking out into untouched landscape and recording the birds and the habitats as well. John james audubon 17851851 worked on the monumental birds of america from 18271838, illustrating and editing one of the largest and most expensive bird books in the world. John james audubon s the birds of america book has long been one of the most treasured books of natural history. Audubon 1st octavo edition please use the search box above to find specific birds. Birds of america by john james audubon, hardcover abebooks.

In this gallery, we list the octavo first edition 18401844 and later edition plates 18561871. This edition was lithographed and hand colored by j. Bowen in 18401844 size is approximately 6 12 x 10 inches genuine audubon lithograph blue mountain warbler male pl. Although many attempts have been made to recreate the magnificent illustrations in audubon s. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing illustrations of a wide variety of birds of the united states. First edition of the birds of america by john james audubon, done by the philadelphia firm of j. The royal octavo edition hardcover published october 1st 1994 by thunder bay press ca hardcover, 1,032 pages. Audubon s name and the name of the printer are printed in the lower left and right corners, respectively. Audubon prints birds of america original octavos 1st edition. This gallery shows the most desirable of all of audubon s original art work. Birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured.

A rare first edition of john james audubon s illustrated the birds of america depicting more than 400 lifesize north american species in four monumental volumes was purchased at. Because it incorporates audubon s text and several new plates, this edition is also considered the first complete edition of audubon s birds of america, as well as the first american edition. But it was more than that, becker of christies says. Besides original prints from the folio editions of audubon s birds and quadrupeds, we frequently offer for sale complete sets of the octavo editions. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. Audubon birds america 1840 first edition original octavo. What is the birds of america double elephant folio book. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition abebooks.

John james audubon birds of america first edition seller. We are offering a selection of prints from the scarce and sought after original first octavo edition of birds of america published in philadelphia from 18401844. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james first. First edition of john james audubons birds of america. Each octavo print comes with a certificate of authenticity coa that gives background on the series and. T he the audubon centennial edition of john james audubon s, the birds of america, double elephant folio is a unique print facsimile limited edition dedicated to the esteemed mission of the national audubon society to conserve our natural ecosystems the audubon centennial edition comprises of all 435 bird image prints, as created by j. Plates 151185 and 190500 have audubon s name and the printers name in italics. The birds of america absorbed audubon s attention for much of his life and its publication took nearly 12 years to complete.

The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. His landmark work, birds of america 1838, consisted of 435 lifesize prints that were published in batches of five over the course of thirteen years. Birds of america by audubon, first edition, macmillan. Audubon prints birds of america havell edition prints. John james audubon 17851851 is perhaps the most famous of early american naturalists. A magnificent new printing of the legendary masterpiece in the 1844 octavo edition john james audubon stands as america s most renowned bird painter and his 7volume masterpiece birds of america has become one of the great prizes of collectors. The audubon centennial edition comprises of all 435 bird image prints, as. The octavo edition of audubon s the birds of america is certainly the most famous and accessible of american books. These prints are originals, and audubon issued the prints in a series by species. Birds of america by audubon, first edition, macmillan abebooks. These are all authentic first edition prints completed under the direct supervision of john james audubon himself.

Afterwards, the prints were handcolored by skilled painters using watercolors. To learn more about the octavo edition of the birds of america, the reader is referred to the excellent books by noted audubon scholars, ron tyler and bill steiner see the bibliography in the. About 1820, around the age of 35, audubon declared his intention to paint every bird in north america. There are only copies of this edition left in private hands, and this one is not. This project was supervised by an international panel of noted ornithologists and. The octavo editions, called the birds of america from drawings made in the united states and its territories, was published in seven volumes by the author and j. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james.

Audubons birds of america popular edition audubon, john james. John james audubon was probably the greatest of american naturalists and undoubtedly the greatest of all bird painters. Havell edition the double elephant folio by jj audubon. The book, published by the natural history museum in london, contains 435 large hand coloured prints of engravings by john james audubon. In the words of the audubon society, perhaps above all else, audubon was a lover and observer of birds and nature. John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubons doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction in new york city. The octavo edition was expanded to 500 plates, and included the text of audubon s ornithological biography.

Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds. Audubon print prices, audubon price guides, and price. We are passionate about natural history art, offering superb examples of rare works by john j. Read up on the bien edition however, as these images do have a different look and feel than the havell prints. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. John james audubon american, 17851851 pl 16 blackshouldered elanus from the first octavo edition of birds of america new york and philadelphia. Audubon, mark catesby, alexander wilson, pierrejoseph redoute, dr.

Birds of america by audubon, first edition abebooks. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838. The audubon family utilized camera lucida to reduce the double elephant folio havell edition bird images to the smaller octavo size about 10 x 6 12. Bowen in 18401844 the outlines were hand printed from a lithographic stone and each print was hand coloured. The national audubon society explains, printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesized watercolours of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. Even as audubon was seeing the last plates of the first edition of the birds of america being finished, he was making plans for the publication of a smaller version. Birds of america the complete works of audubon 75th anniversary edition, volume vi of x john james audubon on. Robert thornton, basilius besler, john gould, edward lear, and other important natural history artists. Audubon birds america 1840 first edition original octavo prints. In the 19th century it was the usual practice for bird illustrators to work exclusively from preserved specimens, but audubon found this less than ideal.

This royal octavo edition, first published in new york and philadelphia in 184044, was such a success that seven editions followed it, beginning in 1856 with the second edition. Collection of 288 audubon paintings, in color, accompanied by captions by ornothologist ludlow griscom 1890 1959, known as the dean of the birdwatchers. Audubons birds of america, 1950 first printing, popular edition, macmillan. Audubon reduced the large original engravings using a camera lucida. Audubon s birds of america popular edition first printing 1950 hbdj. Birds of america is one of the best examples of handcolored work in america and is highly collectible. See more ideas about audubon prints, john james audubon and birds of america. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. Furthermore, we hold the worlds largest inventory of prints from the 197172 amsterdam edition of the birds of america. Following the success of his large folio, audubon offered his birds in a miniature or royal octavo edition which was lithographed and handcolored in philadelphia, pennsylvania during 184044 by j. Original audubon havell edition prints, birds of america. The first edition of birds of america was created between 1826 and 1838 using a printing process known as engraving. Sep 30, 20 if you love audubon and can appreciate this later and somewhat flawed lithographed printing edition of the birds of america, go for it. See more ideas about audubon birds, birds of america and john james audubon.

Audubon s octavo birds first edition 18401844 all prints guaranteed authentic and from the first octavo edition of the birds of america based on either first hand knowledge of the source or on widely accepted authentication criteria. First, it was a moneymaker, successfully marketed throughout the united states on a scale that the great cost of the original. Firstedition audubon prints coveted by collectors and. Original audubon havell edition produced 18261837 prints for sale. My images of audubon is a very popular cdrom that contains all 500 images of the audubon 1st octavo edition of birds of america, along with audubon s original text for each bird.

Birds of america by audubon, first edition, used abebooks. T he the audubon centennial edition of john james audubons, the birds of america, double elephant folio is a unique print facsimile limited edition dedicated to the esteemed mission of the national audubon society to conserve our natural ecosystems. Original audubon audobon first edition royal octavo. First edition octavo, birds of america arader galleries. First edition of john james audubons birds of america book. Jun 18, 2018 john james audubons the birds of america book has long been one of the most treasured books of natural history. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The lithographs of this first royal octavo edition were lithographed by the philadelphia firm of j. Birds of america the complete works of audubon 75th. More information about this seller contact this seller 16. Audubon prints birds of america original octavos 1st. These fine audubon lithographs come from birds of america, the royal octavo edition 18401844. The birds of america showcased, for the first time, lifesize.

Audubons birds of america popular edition 1950 macmillan co. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. Jun 12, 2018 the birds of america showcased, for the first time, lifesize illustrations of birds some of which are now extinct, like the carolina parakeet. It also contains all 155 images of the 1st octavo edition of the quadrupeds of north america, along with audubon and the rev. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and its territories after. John james audubon american 1785 1851 blue jay series. Begun in 1840, audubon employed jt bowen, a lithographer from philadelphia, to reproduce the miniature edition. This standard sized book is one of them and one of the first to be published in this. Considered the artists greatest triumph, the oversized fourvolume set that contains 435 handcolored prints of his watercolor drawings, published at great personal expense between 1827 and 1838, is the kind of rare book owned.

The best of his famous paintings 288 full page, 4color plates have been carefully chosen for this handysized popular edition. In his bird art, he mainly forsook oil paint, the medium of serious artists of the day, in favor of watercolors and pastel crayons and occasionally pencil, charcoal, chalk, gouache. The birds of america, from drawings made in the united states and their territories. Sep 14, 2018 firstedition audubon prints coveted by collectors and thieves. The original edition of the birds of america sometimes called the havell edition after its printer, and. John james audubon 17851851 was for half a century north americas dominant nature artist, as well as the first in the region to conduct birdbanding experiments.

And the bien edition contained only about one third of the entire birds of america series. The paper size for these prints is approximately 6. Birds of america octavo editions davidson galleries. Information on buying and collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james with a guide to first edition identification, points of issue and price and. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubon s 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month and is. Using a press which exerted a great amount pressure, the designs which were etched into copper plates were printed in black ink onto heavy paper. John james audubon birds america 1840 first edition original. Popular edition of john james audubons 1785 1851 illustrations of birds of america began painting in 1840. The last print featured in the collection was issued in 1838, after which audubon traveled north america several more times to paint the continents wildlife before finally settling in.

In 197172 the first complete edition of audubon s great work, the birds of america, was published in amsterdam, the netherlands, using the original folio copy sold by audubon to the teyler museum in the early 1800s. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition. Guide to collecting john james audubon prints skinner. Audubons birds of america popular edition 1950 macmillan. Original audubon audobon first edition royal octavo prints. Popular edition of john james audubon s 1785 1851 illustrations of birds of america began painting in 1840. Because the prints were extremely large and had to be handcolored by a team of painters, the cost of creating the original sets was exorbitant. Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds of. Jul 30, 2003 this marvelous edition of audubon s birds of america displays all 435 of audubon s brilliant handcolored engravings in exquisite reproductions taken from the original plates of the audubon societys archival copy of the rare double elephant folio. This volume seeks to fulfill his stated intention and make his classic work available to the wide reading public. Firstedition audubon prints coveted by collectors and thieves. Theres a good reason that the book commands such high.