John James Audubon. Great Auk. [London: circa 1836]. Hand-colored aquatint engraving by Robert Havell, from the ...

Description

A Beautiful Hand-Colored Aquatint Engraving

John James Audubon. Great Auk. [London: circa 1836]. Hand-colored aquatint engraving by Robert Havell, from the first edition of The Birds of America, plate 346. Measures approximately 25.5 x 38.25 inches. Mat burnt in margins, faintly obscuring text in upper margin. Closed tears found along edges, some addressed by cellophane, cloth or paper tape repairs on verso, faintly foxed with a bit of toning, light soiling and wear on edges with minor chipping and loss. Very good with a bright, clean image area.

More Information: John James Audubon (1785-1851), the Haitian-born Frenchman who spent most of his life in the United States, is, without question, the greatest and most influential painter of birds in the history of ornithological illustration. His masterpiece, the Birds of America (1827-1838), took twelve years of meticulous work to complete. The 435 hand-colored aquatint engravings, masterfully rendered by Robert Havell, were originally printed on huge double elephant folio paper, depicting North American birds in their full life-size glory. This original "Havell Edition" is the first and most sought-after printing, and it is estimated that only 175 complete sets of this edition were produced. In 1842 Audubon issued the "Octavo Edition," a smaller format (and more affordable) edition intended to reach a larger audience. The "Bien Edition"- a collection of chromolithograph reissues - appeared between 1858 and 1860, but was left incomplete as the publication was halted by the onset of the Civil War; it is estimated that only 75 sets of this edition were issued. Audubon's last work was The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, a study of mammals published in both an imperial folio format by J. T. Bowen as well as an octavo edition by Lockwood & Co. Not only was Audubon a superb wildlife painter, but he also contributed significantly to the study of bird anatomy and behavior. John James Audubon's influential and groundbreaking work occupies a monumental place of honor in the pantheon of ornithological art.