Birds of america by john james audubon, hardcover barnes. A 1981 copy of audubons birds of america by roger tory peterson and virginia marie peterson. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris. 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. Johnson reprint corporation and theatrum orbis terrarum, 197172. In the 1830s audubon also wrote his ornithological biography which described the habits of the birds he drew. The birds of america by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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.
Guide to collecting john james audubon prints skinner inc. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james. The birds of america absorbed audubons attention for much of his life and its publication took nearly 12 years to complete.
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 any single. The collectors edition in folio of the original watercolor paintings by john james audubon for the birds of america. Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Written by naturalist john james audubon, the birds of america is one of the most prized and collected books of all time. Audubon the birds of america hardcover published by crown hardcover, 124. The birds of america by audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Audubons birds of america the audubon society baby. When he arrived however at the academy of natural sciences in philadelphia, armed with his portfolio, he made the mistake of boasting that he had seen wilsons work and that it. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. Its a gorgeous little book, very thick but very small dimensions it can fit in the palm of your hand easily. This edition of audubons birds of america displays his handcoloured engravings in reproductions taken from the original plates of the audubon societys archival. In addition to the stunning colors and detail in audubons work, it is noteworthy also because of its ambitious scope. The birds of america hardcover 1965 by john james audubon author. The birds of america, abbeville, ariel, and princeton editions. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and their territories. John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. The publishers of which i am aware include welcome rain, laurel glen, and wordsworth.
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. The audubon society baby elephant folio by roger tory peterson. Iii and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. John james audubon, an early american naturalist and painter, produced one of the greatest works of natural history and art of the nineteenth century, the birds of america. Audubon created a genre of illustration that didnt exist before. First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for. Audubons birds of america 1981 the audubon society baby elephant folio book. Buy a cheap copy of audubons birds of america the audubon.
He wandered the woods and rivers of the wild frontiers of north america shooting, studying, posing, and painting every species of bird he could find, and many years later, the resulting books were to change the worlds of ornithology and naturalhistory art forever. The audubon society baby elephant folio differs in a number of ways besides its dimensions from earlier editions of the birds of america and from john james audubons original, massive doubleelephant folio, the heaviest volume of which weighs 56 pounds. The original watercolor paintings by john james audubon. The book was published in several editions between 1997 and 2000. As the record of the interior story of the making of this monumental work, his journal of 1826 is one of the richest documents in the history of american culture. The story behind john james audubons birds of america. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The original water color paintings by john james audubon. Used good cover shows mild use wear with a few scuffs to sheen has a small amount of foxing on upper edge neat spine sound binding no internal markings or names. Nonetheless, the images in it are beautiful and the book is very wellmade. John james audubon is undoubtedly one of the greatest nature painters and writers in history. Audubon birds america 1840 first edition original octavo. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition.
Birds of america john james audubon bauman rare books. Buy the birds of america complete ed of audubons classic work by john james audubon isbn. Original watercolor paintings by john james audubon for the birds of america book. 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. John james audubon illustrator and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
It is to the persevering industry of wilson that we are indebted for the discovery of this bird. In 1824, three years after audubon began birds of america in earnest, he was ready to publish. This book was published in 1981 by abbeville press, new york. Find great deals on ebay for birds of america audubon and audubon birds of america book. Reproduced in color from the originals in the collection of the new york historical society. He has briefly described the male, of which he had obtained but a single specimen. The barn owl of the united states is far more abundant in the southern districts than in the other parts. This book displays reproductions of some of audubons engravings as found in the audubon society baby elephant folio.
Published january 1st 1981 by abbeville press hardcover, 650 pages authors. Audubons birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Often cited as the most expensive book of all time, there are still 120 known intact copies of john james audubon s the birds of america which was published between 1827 and 1838. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books 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. Never having met with it until i visited the great pine forest, where that ardent ornithologist found it, i followed his track in my rambles there, and had not spent a week among the gigantic hemlocks which ornament. Original watercolor paintings by john james audubon for the birds of america two volume boxed set. Autumnal warbler john james audubons birds of america. Twothirds of north american bird species are at risk of extinction from climate change. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. Do not confuse this book with other books reproducing audubons birds of america with the same or similar title.
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. Audubons childhood fascination with drawing birds became his obsession. 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. Make offer the birds of america book by john james audubon wcolor plates 1953 3rd edition. Original watercolor paintings by john james audubon for. Audubon s birds of america 1981 the audubon society baby elephant folio book. 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. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month. It is half leather bound on board with a hubbed spine. I never found it to the east of pennsylvania, and only twice in that state, nor did i ever see, or even hear of one in the western country.
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