On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubons doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction. Dec 12, 2018 audubon was setting out to create a bird collection in print, and as a collector he was a maximalist. A number of copies of this book have been offered at auction over the years. The audubon society field guide to north american birds. The paper size for these prints is approximately 6. Feb 8, 2020 birds of our nation, art by jj audubon. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch.
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. Audubon, set a new record for the sale of a printed book at auction on. Citizens of the feathered tribe audubon s 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. John audubon auction and american animals kentucky ties. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to.
Each original audubon publication was printed on a specific sized sheet of paper with the image either horizontally or vertically oriented. Since 1973, 24 copies of the book have been sold at auction. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction. Eventually, he created birds of america, a book containing 435 of john james audubon s paintings compiled into prints. 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. See more ideas about birds, john james audubon and birds of america. An auction for the most valuable illustrated book in the world and a featurelength crime caper both have interesting ties to kentucky.
Price guide havell edition audubon print prices, audubon. Original audubon prints for sale audubon collector. This auction will run from thursday, april 16th with a close starting at 7pm est on thursday april 23rd. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. See more ideas about john james audubon, birds of america and audubon birds. The gallery presents below a selection of the celebrated american naturalist john james audubon s original 19th century copper plate engravings and lithographs havell and bien edition double elephant folio birds, imperial folio quadrupeds, octavo edition birds and quadrupeds, 20th century audubon havell edition restrikes and fine facsimile prints, 19th century stone. It is a handcolored engraving with aquatint and etching on j. A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. In addition, we offer some prints by other early american bird artists such as mark catesby, alexander wilson, and john cassin. The original water color paintings by john james audubon. Flynn has included in his price guide tables ebay realized auction price values for all original antique audubon prints that are commonly sold on that internet auction site. View john james audubon s 5,929 artworks on artnet. Cxxi, 1831, from the havell edition of birds of america. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing.
John james audubon artwork for sale at online auction john. Books by national audubon society author of national audubon. In december 2010, the economist magazine estimated that, adjusted for inflation, five of the ten highest prices ever paid for printed books were paid for copies of the birds of america. The leatherbound set is the star lot in christies march 10 sale, important natural history books. The birds of america 182738 preserves in four monumental volumes 435 handcolored aquatint plates depicting all of the thenknown species of birds found in the united states. Joel oppenheimer gallery the audubon and natural history. John james audubon s birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. The sale was led by the birds of america 182738, four monumental volumes of 435 handcolored aquatint plates depicting all of the thenknown species of birds found in the united states. 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. Guide to collecting john james audubon prints skinner. Only 120 complete sets of audubons 435 handcoloured, lifesized engravings of americas birds are believed to exist today, with the majority 107. Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds of. John james audubon is best known for his ornithological magnum opus, the birds of america.
The value of john james audubon prints extend beyond market price, and his paintings and drawings continue to set the standard for avian artwork. This book includes a chapter that will help the collector identify and authenticate prints from all of the original antique audubon editions. John james audubon artwork for sale at online auction. Audubon print prices, audubon price guides, and price. The birds of america from original drawings by john james.
We specialize in original and fine reproduction audubon prints, offering a good selection from all editions. Original water color paintings by john james audubon for. Copy of the worlds most expensive natural history book flies into. Sep 10, 2010 john james audubon s birds of america holds the record as the worlds most expensive book. Over the years many authors have written entire books about the birds of america publication. 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. John james audubon prices 2,275 auction price results. In a fourminute bidding battle in london that set sothebys astir, an original edition of john james audubons birds of america on tuesday set what the company called a record for the sale of. Amazons fast shipping was perfect as always so i am one happppppy customer enjoying my new bird book right now. Published between 182738 in an edition of around 200, the birds of america represents the culmination of audubon s life work as. The birds of america, the viviparous quadrupeds of north america achieved an impressive 3,770,000 usd. The original edition of the birds of america sometimes called the havell.
An original birds of america, the fourvolume illustrated work by. But birds of america by john james audubon, made in 1827, was just sold in auction to an anonymous. 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. Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale record. Our stock of the octavo or small audubon prints is one of the largest in the country. Tracking the most expensive book a copy of audubons birds of. Audubon prints birds of america havell edition prints. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons.
Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. My new go to bird reference guide to toss in my backpack. Audubon galleries is the worlds leading dealer in art by john james audubon, including editions of his prints in both elephant folio and smaller formats, as well as his books and even original artwork. It took audubon 11 years, from 1827 to 1838, to publish the 435 handcolored, etched and.
John james audubon paintings for sale heritage auctions. Audubons path to becoming the worlds greatest bird painter was circuitous, if not. See more ideas about audubon birds, birds and birds of america. For years, audubons birds held the record for the highest price ever reached at auction. Copies of john james audubons two masterworks, consigned by the indiana historical society, will be auctioned by sotheby s on 1 april 2014. The second is a reference area, called the audubon book gallery, with books and other detailed information on audubon, gould and other similar artists. The book so big it needed its own furniture mental floss. John james audubon birds 19501969 art prints for sale ebay. Unfollow audubon birds of america book to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
The dates of composition of the books range from the 7thcentury quran leaf palimpsest and the early 8th century. And the sellers quality of used books blew my mind. Mar, 2001 this book is the complete collection of the gorgeous work of john james audubon, all 435 plates of his original workand no there are no missing or out of order plates, the people who reprinted this book are not complete idiots. Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds. The birds of america from original drawings by john james audubon. Original audubon havell edition produced 18261837 prints for sale. See available prints and multiples, works on paper, and paintings for sale and learn about the artist.
One of the highlights among the 33 audubon prints in the bonhams auction is snowy owl pl. This book is part of a series of guides designed for adolescents interested in natural history and nature. Sothebys to auction audubon s birds of america and shakespeares first folio from estate of late lord hesketh mark brown, arts correspondent wed 8. Index and guide to audubon s birds of america by susanne m. 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 prints depicted each of north americas known bird varieties at the time. Theres a good reason that the book commands such high. Collectors circle as birds of america comes to auction. These fine audubon lithographs come from birds of america, the royal octavo edition 18401844.
Books the original water color paintings by john james audubon for the birds of america. Large items will be available for pickup by appointment. Plate 285 passenger pigeon, original audubon octavo 1840 first edition. Nov 16, 2015 in order to feature the birds as lifesize, audubon insisted that the engravings were printed on doubleelephant broadsheets measuring 39. Rare copy of audubons birds of america for sale science.
The books are an excellent introduction to the rocks and minerals, birds, wildflowers, and insects for children aged 818. A complete first edition set of john james audubon s gloriously illustrated the birds of america 18271838 goes up for auction june 14, estimated at. 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. Reuters a first edition of john james audubon s the birds of america, one of the most celebrated books of natural history, is going up for auction. A copy of john james audubon s early19thcentury illustrated birds of america sold in london tonight for 7. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. A complete first edition set of john james audubons gloriously illustrated the birds of america 18271838 goes up for auction june 14. John james audubon was an american artist and naturalist best known for his detailed paintings of north american birds. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubon s doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction in new york city.
Through the book, audubon discovered 25 new species and 12 new subspecies. John james audubon paintings for sale john james audubon. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubons double elephant folioincomparably the most important and most beautiful colorplate book ever published, containing 435 magnificant handcolored etched plates, depicting in life size 1,065 birds representing 489 supposed species. Virtually all original audubon bird and animal images were trimmed slightly and bound into a book volume, as a bookplate. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. 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. Worlds most expensive book comes up for sale the guardian. It also contains all 155 images of the 1st octavo edition of the quadrupeds of north america, along with audubon and the rev. Sale n10256view print cataloguesothebys is delighted to be offering an early subscribers copy of audubon s double elephant folioincomparably the most important and most beautiful colorplate book ever published, containing 435 magnificant handcolored etched plates, depicting in life size 1,065 birds representing 489 supposed species. These are all authentic first edition prints completed under the direct supervision of john james audubon himself. This is an unusually large and brilliantly colored.
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