Cassin, john illustrations of the birds of california, texas, oregon, british and russian america, 1991, 297 pages, large 8vo, texas state historical assn. This large hardbound book is filled with beautiful color reproductions of audubons bird paintings. The birds of america by audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The america today that he shows is one of selfindulgence and disregard. Unfollow audubon birds of america 1937 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Bowen in 18401844 size is approximately 6 12 x 10 inches genuine audubon lithograph blue mountain warbler male pl. This book includes chapters that will help the collector identify and authenticate prints from all of the original antique audubon editions, as well as all the collectible modern audubon editions. If you follow them, you will not only have a great deal of coloring pleasure, but you will also learn how to identify many important birds. This volume, compiled by roger tory peterson and virginia marie peterson, was published by abbeville press, new york. As part of my research for the lost bird project, i was graciously given access to the audubon double folio housed in the rare books library at. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Spine is faded and light wear to cover else very good condition. Audubons birds of america by peterson roger tory and peterson virginia marie seller randall house rare books published 1993 condition fine edition the audubon society baby elephant folio. Audubons birds of america, updated for our polluted world.
All of john james audubon s brilliant bird engravings are graced by illuminating commentary by roger tory peterson, one of america s bestknown ornithologists, in this diminutive, yet lavish volume. 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. He wandered the woods and rivers of the wild frontiers of north america shooting, studying, posing, and painting every species of bird he could find, and many years later, the resulting books were to change the worlds of ornithology and naturalhistory art forever. 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. Each of the 435 full color prints have been arranged phylogenetically in relation to.
Part of the unit centers around art inspired by birds, and so we of course discuss audubon. The auction was a rare chance to own one of the best preserved editions of the 19th century masterpiece, with its 435 handcoloured illustrations, seen as a key volume on us natural history. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition abebooks. Get the best deals on audubon birds of america when you shop the largest online selection at. A biography, 1978, attractive 224 page book on audubon. Audubons birds of america, the most beautiful book in. Announcing the publication of a new book on john james audubons epic work birds of america 6 x 9, 82 pages in 1838, as john james audubons monumental creation, birds of america, was nearing completion, he requested that his engraver, robert havell, produce extra, unique prints.
The birds of america by john james audubon, macmillan, 1942. Not all of the specimens illustrated in the work were collected by audubon himself, some were sent to him by john kirk townsend who had collected them. Published january 1st 1981 by abbeville press hardcover, 650 pages authors. Johnson reprint corporation and theatrum orbis terrarum, 197172. Introduced in 1953 as a limited edition convertible, the corvette has undergone many changes in its 50plus years on the road. Birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured. Birds of america was printed between 1827 and 1838, and was filled prints created from handengraved plates based on audubons original watercolor paintings. Audubon s birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This 1981 corvette is a true survivor with 52k original miles and original paint. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on.
John james audubon davidson galleries antique modern. Rare copy of audubons birds of america for sale science. John james audubons birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. Audubon 1st octavo edition please use the search box above to find specific birds. It was printed by macmillan company in 1946 and it is a fifth edition. Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. Dec 07, 2010 a copy of john james audubons early19thcentury illustrated birds of america sold in london tonight for 7. This is a complete edition of john james audubons nineteenth century masterpiece, the birds of america. In addition to the prints, each birds page also includes a recording of the animals call, plus extensive written texts from the period of the books printing. 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 new york city.
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. Popular edition of john james audubons 1785 1851 illustrations of birds of america began painting in 1840. The four volumes are three feet tall and among them contain. Audubon used the finest of specimens and all types of media including oil crayon, pastel watercolors, ink. Audubon birds america 1840 first edition original octavo prints. Often cited as the most expensive book of all time, there are still 120 known intact copies of john james audubons the birds of america which was published between 1827 and 1838. We are an art gallery with over 50 years of experience focusing on the artwork of john james audubon, john gould, pierrejoseph redoute and other natural history artists. Audubons birds of america by peterson, roger tory and. And audubons second book, ornithological biography, which was intended to be a companion to the birds of america, would inspire the founding of. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubons birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original book, with a catalog of the remaining 470 prints printed in blackandwhite thumbnails in the back of the book. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Fries the first reproductions of the audubon prints made in the united states seem to have been those announced by forest and stream in the september 5, 1896 issue i. First edition of the birds of america by john james audubon, done by the philadelphia firm of j. Birds of america is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also one of the most valuable a complete set sold at auction in december. John james audubon and the making of the birds of america william souder. All 435 illustrations from john j audubons birds of. The audubon society baby elephant folio differs in many ways from any earlier. The title of the series, which i adopted from audubons book, birds of america, seemed inherently loaded with meaning. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. One of the finest ornithological works ever printed audubon, john james. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris. The birds of america absorbed audubons attention for much of his life and its publication took nearly 12 years to complete.
This hardcover book contains 435 pages of audubon hand colored engravings as reproductions taken from original plates of 1838. Audubons birds of america 1981 the audubon society baby. Theres a good reason that the book commands such high. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and their territories. Highresolution images courtesy of the john james audubon center at mill grove, audubon, pa, and the montgomery county, pa, audubon collection. Audubons birds of america by roger tory peterson, virginia. A 1981 corvette is seen here in a photo provided by gm. Sep 10, 2010 john james audubon s birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. The audubon society baby elephant folio hardcover 1981. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. The birds of america is one of the best known natural history books ever produced and also the most valuable a complete set sold at auction in december 2010 for gbp7.
I shall publish the letterpress in a separate book, at the same time with the illustrations, and shall accompany the descriptions of the birds with many anecdotes and accounts of localities connected with the. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month. John james audubgon was born april 26, 1785 at aux cayes, the son of a french naval officer. An employee poses with a page depicting a snowy owl, from john james audubons book birds of america during a photocall for the frederick, 2nd. New listing audubons birds of america baby elephant folio peterson hardcover book 1981. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubons doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Jul, 2017 but calling john james audubons masterpiece of ornithological art, the birds of america, a book is to stretch the limits of the term. 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.
The audubon centennial edition comprises of all 435 bird image prints, as. At the price, libraries owning the original do not need to acquire this book, but libraries that missed the first edition will wish to consider this oneif budgets permit. The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth. What is the birds of america double elephant folio book. Often cited as the most expensive book of all time, there are still 120 known intact copies of john james audubon s the birds of america which was published between 1827 and 1838. John james audubon american 1785 1851 song sparrow series. Birds of america by john james audubon, hardcover barnes. The surprising lives of birds and what they reveal about being human. Birds of america by john james audubon 1946 hb the birds of america is an intriging book by author, john james audubon. This resource, presented by the american antiquarian society, provides access to the color plates inside lithographer julius biens rare edition of audubons birds of america, published in 1860 in new york. Nearly all later ornithological works were inspired by audubons artistry and high standards, and birds of america is considered one of the greatest examples of book. There are separate chapters with advice and recommendations for buying and selling audubon prints, plus special chapters about buying and selling. About 1820, around the age of 35, audubon declared his intention to paint every bird in north america. How audubons birds of america changed natural history.
Mar 24, 2020 the audubon society baby elephant folio differs in a number of ways besides its dimensions from earlier editions of the birds of america and from john james audubon s original, massive doubleelephant folio, the heaviest volume of which weighs 56 pounds. John audubons legendary the birds of america for kindle, volume 1, featuring restored versions of plates 1217, including audubons famous depictions of the whiteheaded eagle bald eagle, fish osprey, raven, pileated woodpecker, raven, golden eagle, barn owl, louisiana heron, the extinct carolina parakeet and passenger pigeon, as well as over 200 others. The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. 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. Audubons childhood fascination with drawing birds became his obsession. 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.
Guide to collecting john james audubon prints skinner inc. Reprint of cassins l856 color plate octavo edition offered as an extension of audubons birds. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubon s birds of america with the same or similar title. While there are a handful of books in the world that may be worth more, until 20 birds of america held the record for the most money paid at auction for any single. Reproductions of audubons birds of america audubon prints. Excellent art conservation services are provided for all types of two dimension artwork, include. Unfollow audubon birds of america book to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. A list of the genera and subgenera of north american birds, with their types. Each of the 435 full color prints have been arranged phylogenetically in relation to the original plate numbers.
I checked out this book from my library, hoping it had the full collection of birds from audubon s birds of america, but alas the copy by library had only featured 30 color prints from the original book, with a catalog of the remaining 470 prints printed in blackandwhite thumbnails in the back of the book. 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. This december, sothebys is delighted to offer an early subscribers copy of john james audubons birds of america in a single lot sale immediately following our fine books and manuscripts. Birds of america by audubon, first edition, macmillan. Birds of america by audubon, first edition abebooks. To create this hardback edition, the natural history museums own original double elephant size folio was disbound and each of the 435 beautiful handcoloured prints was specially photographed. Birds of america, from drawing made in the united states and their territories. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north american birds havell edition, all reproduced from handengraved plates, and is. As early as november of 1826, shortly after lizars had begun the engraving of the birds of america, audubon had written in his journal.
Reproductions of audubons birds of america by waldemar h. The book is a good size not elephant portfolio sizei wish but large enough for students to really see the detail and the print is high quality. Ornithology books in the library of trinity college, hartford, including the library of ostrom enders. Audubon the birds of america hardcover published by crown hardcover, 124. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The life and art of john james audubon nancy plain. John james audubon illustrator and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This is a complete edition of john james audubon s nineteenth century masterpiece, the birds of america.
Collection of 288 audubon paintings, in color, accompanied by captions by ornothologist ludlow griscom 1890 1959, known as the dean of the birdwatchers. Dec 08, 2010 a copy of the worlds most expensive printed book has sold at auction for. The sevenvolume birds of america includes images of six nowextinct birds. The birds of america exhibition marks the first time the noted artists 435 first edition prints are put on display all once in the same venue. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for. The majority of these books are in pdf format which requires adobe. The audubon society baby elephant folio by roger tory peterson. Audubon s original plates, numbered to correspond to the pages of the book, have been reproduced in color on the covers. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james. Audubons birds of america the audubon society baby elephant. Popular edition of john james audubon s 1785 1851 illustrations of birds of america began painting in 1840.
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