|
|
Click here to see our available inventory for John James Audubon
John James Audubon (1785-1851)
Elephant
Folio Birds only CLICK HERE
Octavo
Birds only CLICK HERE
Imperial Folio Quadrupeds (Animals) CLICK HERE
Octavo Quadrupeds (Animals) CLICK HERE
America's most famous naturalist was born in Haiti, West
Indies, on April 26, 1785. He was the son of Captain Jean Audubon and
Rabin, a Creole woman. His two major works were The Birds of America
and The Quadrupeds of North America. He had two sons, Victor Gifford
and John Woodhouse, who became artists in their own right. He died at
his home in New York City, on January 27, 1851.
His most celebrated work, The Birds of America, contains 435
handcolored prints in aquatint and engraving and was published in London.
The engraving work was demanding and the first engraver, William Lizars,
and Audubon parted quickly. Robert Havell was chosen to finish the work.
Havell's family had run a printing shop in London for many years and was
in a better position to help Audubon over the eleven years it took to
complete this work. The monumental size of The Birds of America set it apart from anything published before or after. Audubon illustrated
the birds life size. The paper size of the double elephant folio prints
is approximately 25 x 38 inches. When bound in four volumes, each volume
weighs around sixty pounds. This work was republished from 1840 through
1844 in octavo format (10½ x 6¾ inches) with 500 handcolored lithographs.
The original watercolors of The Birds of America are owned by The
New-York Historical Society, which is located at 170 Central Park
West, New York City. A visit to the Historical Society when these exquisite
watercolors are on display is a must.
Audubon's birds and animals are a specialty of The Old Print Shop.
Over the years the Shop has owned nine complete sets, several rogue volumes,
and many individual prints from the elephant folio edition. We have a
fine selection of the octavo edition and occasionally a complete set.
Audubon's prints are always sought after. If you are interested in a specific
print, please let us know, and we will call you when it becomes available.
|
Click here to see our available inventory for John James Audubon
|
