No. 2 Pl. 6 Common Buzzard. Swainson's Hawk in pursuit of a Swamp Hare. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.5 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No. 6 Pl. 30 Columbian Day Owl Pair of Columbian Day Owls of a Crag. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
Pl. 1 Californian Turkey Vulture (Californian Condor) *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No. 12. Pl. 59. Say's Flycatcher Male & Female on delicately leaved branch with insect. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No. 14. Pl. 69 Townsend's Ptilogonys (Female) Single female Flycatcher on fruited branch. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No. 4 Pl. 18 Swallow-tailed Hawk Swallow-tailed Hawk in flight. Snake in its tallons. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Near Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No. 12. Pl. 57 Great Crested Flycatcher Pair of Great Crested Flycatchers; one on a slender branch, the other attacking from above. Feathers afloat. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
Pl. 3 Black Vulture or Carrion Crow. Dramatic composition of two Black Vultures feeding on a Deer head on the ground. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.5 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No 5 Pl. 21 Pigeon Falcon Pair of Pigeon Falcons (Merlin): one in profile on a stump, one showing underside of plummage. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
No. 13. Pl. 63 Pewee Flycatcher, Cotton Plant; Gossypium Herbaceum Pair of male and female Pewee Flycathcers on flowering stem of Cotton plant. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Near Fine (faint offset) original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
Pl. 16 Black-shouldered Elanus (White-tailed Kite or Black-shouldered Kite) Two Kites: one on a perch, the other soaring above. *Note: Image shown in cropped detail. Actual print is unaltered with title* A Fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by J.J. Audubon, FRS FLS (Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society). Drawn on stone by Ralph Trembly. Lithographed, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with 435 engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set in native foliage and surroundings. For this new Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants drew 500 unique compositions inspired by the original engravings for the grand Double Elephant Folio Edition. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photo-mechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, every composition was drawn by hand with the aid of the Camera Lucida. Each bird was now rendered according to species; and portrayed on a new botanical perch or landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird- or family of birds- in natural settings now sized to scale in the smaller format. For the illustrations of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, inked and then printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully handpainted in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this smaller format Audubon presented ten unique compositions of birds recently discovered during his explorations into the American West, and not included in the Folio edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription, and issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44; and contained 100 packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text: The Ornithological Biography which included Audubon's scientific and characteristic descriptions of the birds along with his observations of the robust beauty of the Early American landscape. True nature writing at its finest. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is apparent from the production of seven edition; with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.)
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. The First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Near Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. very faint offset. . A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Archivally Framed
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York & Philadelphia:: Audubon, J. J. & Chevalier, J.B.,, 1840-44.. First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
New York:: Audubon, J.J. ,, 1840-44.. The First Royal Octavo. Fine condition with bright original hand-coloring. A fine original hand-colored lithograph on paper. Sheet size: 6.5 x 10.25 inches. Drawn from nature by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Linnaean Society. Lithographed, printed and colored by JT Bowen, Philadelphia for the First Royal Octavo Edition of John James Audubon's The Birds of America. Includes the text from Audubon's Ornithological Biography. The Royal Octavo Edition represents John James Audubon's (1785-1851) desire to create an affordable work based on his magnum opus; the Double Elephant Folio Edition of The Birds of America. London: Published by the Author, 1827-38, with engravings produced by William H. Lizars and Robert Havell, Jr. after Audubon's dramatic life-sized portraits of North American birds set amidst their native foliage and surroundings. During the mid-nineteenth century, there were no photomechanical means of reproduction. To create a smaller format work, each and every composition was redrawn by hand; with the aid of the Camera Lucida. For the Royal Octavo Edition, Audubon and his assistants translated the 435 engravings of the Double Elephant Folio Edition into 500 unique drawings. Audubon's compositions of heretofore unrelated birds were now rendered according to species; with each bird portrayed on a new botanical perch or within a renewed landscape. With this new envisioning Audubon created a perfected composition: a charming vignette of the bird, or family of birds, in its natural setting- here sized to scale in the smaller (Royal Octavo) format. For the lithographs of the Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America, Audubon enlisted the talents of America's premier lithographers and printers: the JT Bowen and Company in Philadelphia and Endicott in New York. Each composition was drawn on a limestone tablet, then inked and printed. Once dried, the print of the bird and setting was faithfully hand-watercolored in splendid array of lifelike tones. In this format Audubon presented the unique compositions of ten birds newly discovered during his explorations of the American West and not previously portrayed in the Double Elephant Folio Edition. As with the Folio Edition, the Royal Octavo Edition was sold by subscription format -issued twice monthly between 1840 and 44- containing one hundred individual packets of five hand-painted lithographs of birds and their accompanying text. Audubon's Ornithological Biography included his characteristic and scientific descriptions of the birds along with his colloquial nature writings describing the robust beauty of the early American landscape as well as reflections on the travels of this unique Ornithologist, Naturalist and Frontiersman. The popularity and success of the Royal Octavo Edition of Audubon's Birds of America is evidenced by its subsequent production of seven editions- albeit of diminishing quality-with the final edition issued in 1870 by George Lockwood, New York. (Nissen 51, Sabin: H.2364, Tyler, Ron. Audubon's Great National Work. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1993. Wood, C.. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Literature. London: Oxford University Press, 1931.) Matted in Ivory Rag Board
