Jan 09, 2012 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 cornell university. 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. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. Customize your audubon print with hundreds of different frames and mats, if desired. The edition of birds of america by julius bien and john woodhouse audubon was discontinued due to the onset of the civil war. Many of the original sheets contained 2 images, and they were frequently separated into two smaller sheets. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on. Acknowledged as one of the most important and beautiful color plate books ever published, john james audubons the birds of america is also one of the rarest and most collectable. This large hardbound book is filled with beautiful color reproductions of audubons bird paintings. John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. Subsequent editions were issued at a more affordable price in multivolume octavo editions. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch.
Peterson 1993, hardcover, revised at the best online prices at ebay. May 31, 2018 ornithologist john james audubon labored over his lifes masterwork, the birds of america, from 1827 to 1838. This edition was lithographed and hand colored by j. The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth. Original audubon havell edition produced 18261837 prints for sale. Unfollow birds of america audubon to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. John james audubon s birds of america is a portal into the natural world. Theres a good reason that the book commands such high. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for.
Jul 06, 2014 i have a book titled birds of america and below that title is the word audubon, this is on the spine of the book at the bottom of the spine are the numbers 598. 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. It was published from 1827 to 1839 in sets of four volumes. Dec 12, 2018 citizens of the feathered tribe audubons the birds of america offered in a dedicated sale in new york on 14 june, this exceptional example of the most valuable illustrated book ever produced and an icon of american art was sold to benefit environmental causes.
Audubons the birds of america, one of the most celebrated books of. His major work, a colorplate book entitled the birds of america 18271839, is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. The original watercolor painting by john james audubon for the birds of america books, 2 volumes, published 1966 by american heritage publishing, new york. Birds of america john james audubon bauman rare books. Birds of america by john james audubon 1946 hb the birds of america is an intriging book by author, john james audubon. Audubon print prices, audubon price guides, and price.
Shop for audubon art prints from our community of independent artists and iconic brands. 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. Audubon prints birds of america havell edition prints. The birds of america depicts more than one thousand birds which come vividly alive in its 435 pages. Mar, 2001 the book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. And audubons second book, ornithological biography, which was intended to be a companion to the birds of america, would inspire the founding of. The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. John james audubon was a naturalist and painter and is considered one of the greatest bird artists of all time. Birds of america bien edition 185860 the original audubon bien edition consisted of 150 different printed images on 105 different sheets measuring about 2612 x 3912. What happened was that his fame, of course, rests on the birds of america, which was published in england between 1827 and 1838. The 19th century masterpiece, replete with count em 435 handcolored illustrations, has long been considered a crucial document about u. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and their territories. Over the years many authors have written entire books about the birds of america publication.
A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month. Price guide havell edition audubon print prices, audubon. The birds of america by john james audubon, macmillan, 1942. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubon s birds of america with the same or similar title. These fine audubon lithographs come from birds of america, the royal octavo edition 18401844. Oct 01, 2011 john james audubon was a naturalist and painter and is considered one of the greatest bird artists of all time. Born in haiti in 1785, he spent much of his life travelling north america observing, catching and drawing birds and animals in remarkable detail. Written by naturalist john james audubon, the birds of america is one of the most prized and collected books of all time. It is estimated that between 2025 million copies or reproductions of the original. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubons birds of america with the same or similar title. Guide to collecting john james audubon the value of audubon. Audubons birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james.
A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. 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. 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 audubons original text for each bird. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris.
As a result, fewer than 150 sets have survived, and original bien wild turkey chromolithographs cost thousands of dollars. It is estimated that between 2025 million copies or reproductions of the original audubon images have been produced since the 1930s. The quadrupeds of north america 184954 the small quadrupeds were published in octavo form just as the birds, but for the first time, the name of audubons son, john w. I have an audubon birds of america fifty selections with. Published between 182738 in an edition of around 200, the birds of america represents the culmination of audubons life work as. Audubon s birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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 cornell university. 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. The audubon society baby elephant folio by virginia m. Dec 10, 2010 on december 7th, a beautiful, complete copy of john james audubon s birds of america sold at sothebys auction in london for a hammer price of 6. First edition of the birds of america by john james audubon, done by the philadelphia firm of j.
Spine is faded and light wear to cover else very good condition. John james audubon is best known for his ornithological magnum opus, the birds of america. John james audubon the birds of america 21st century edition. One of the finest ornithological works ever printed audubon, john james. In order to feature the birds as lifesize, audubon insisted that the engravings were printed on doubleelephant broadsheets.
Nov 16, 2015 published between 182738 in an edition of around 200, the birds of america represents the culmination of audubons life work as a naturalistartist, depicting in 435 plates every bird species from north america. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. Each audubon art print is produced using archival inks, ships within 48 hours, and comes with a 30day money back guarantee. The prints of john james audubon s original 18261838 birds of america double elephant folio def havell edition are perhaps the most popular and certainly most copied bird images ever. 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. The paper size for these prints is approximately 6. John james audubgon was born april 26, 1785 at aux cayes, the son of a french naval officer. Ornithologist john james audubon labored over his lifes masterwork, the birds of america, from 1827 to 1838. It also contains all 155 images of the 1st octavo edition of the quadrupeds of north america, along with audubon and the rev. He created about 200 copies of the 3foottall, fourvolume set, each. The birds of america hardcover january 1, 1944 by john james audubon author visit amazons john james audubon page.
Dec 15, 2017 and audubons second book, ornithological biography, which was intended to be a companion to the birds of america, would inspire the founding of the national audubon society, one of the world. Bowen in 18401844 size is approximately 6 12 x 10 inches genuine audubon lithograph blue mountain warbler male pl. To accommodate these large illustrations, the birds of america was published as a double elephant folio some 40 inches tall and 28 inches wide, equivalent to 100 by 68 centimeters. I have an audobon birds of america fifty selections with commentaries by roger tory peterson all 50 prints are within boxbook the macmillan company, no date on prints nor boxbook. Birds of america by audubon, first edition abebooks.
Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. A complete first edition set of john james audubons gloriously illustrated the birds of america 18271838 goes up for auction june 14. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons. The birds of america hardcover january 1, 1944 by john james audubon author. Guide to collecting john james audubon the value of. Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the united states of america. On december 7th, a beautiful, complete copy of john james audubons birds of america sold at sothebys auction in london for a hammer price of 6.
Citizens of the feathered tribe audubons the birds of america offered in a dedicated sale in new york on 14 june, this exceptional example of the most valuable illustrated book ever produced and an icon of american art was sold to benefit environmental causes. These are all authentic first edition prints completed under the direct supervision of john james audubon himself. It said the price, paid by a buyer who wished to remain anonymous. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james first. Every week, we will take a closer look at the story behind an object from the collections of john james audubon state park museum. An employee poses with a page from john james audubons book birds of america. 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. The prints of john james audubons original 18261838 birds of america double elephant folio def havell edition are perhaps the most popular and certainly most copied bird images ever. Audubon havell edition price guide 1 the audubon havell edition and price guide john james audubon s original birds of america double elephant folio was easily the finest natural history book ever published. 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. I have a book titled birds of america and below that title is the word audubon, this is on the spine of the book at the bottom of the spine are the numbers 598.