The book has been rebacked at some point in the past, but it retains most of its original spine covering. John james audubons indelible portraits of american birds have long since cemented his reputation as one of our truly magical realists. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition. I just got through reading rhodes excellent biography john james audubon. I did order a used book to save on the money but i was shocked when this bad boy showed up on my porch. Born in haiti in 1785, he spent much of his life travelling north america observing, catching and drawing birds and animals in remarkable detail. Isbn 9781558591288 9781558591288 hardcover, abbeville press, 2003. Printed between 1827 and 1838, it contains 435 lifesize watercolors of north. Audubons birds of america coloring book john james audubon. John james audubon books list of books by author john. Audubons birds of america coloring book john james. The pictures have been faithfully redrawn by paul e.
The story behind john james audubons birds of america. Published by crown publishers inc, new york, ny, 1978. In 1824, three years after audubon began birds of america in earnest, he was ready to publish. Audubons birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Quarto 310mm x 230mm, 435 full colour plates cover is faded, but overall good condition. First edition of the birds of america by john james audubon, done by the philadelphia firm of j. John james audubon 17851851 was for half a century north america s dominant nature artist, as well as the first in the region to conduct birdbanding experiments.
Jan 19, 2012 this first edition of birds of america by john james audubon, originally bought by the duke of portland some time after 1828, is expected to become the worlds most expensive book when it is. For anyone interested in one of the more famous plates in the bien edition of john james audubon s, birds of north america, this may serve to whet his or her appetite. Iceland or jer falcon iceland or jer falcon, handcoloured engraving and aquatint by robert havell, jr. 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. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to fetch. The birds shown are usually adult males when the caption does not give the information on age and sex. Nearly all later ornithological works were inspired by audubons artistry and high standards, and birds of america is considered one of the greatest examples of book. The birds of america from drawings made in the united states and their territories. John james audubon is best known for the birds of america, a book of 435 images, portraits of every bird then known in the united states painted and. From drawings made in the united states and their territories, john james audubon. Audubon periodically published them in sets of five plates by subscription. John james audubon was a naturalist and painter and is considered one of the greatest bird artists of all time.
This plate has been carefully removed from the fine limited edition published by w. Birds of america is his seminal work, the one against which such contemporary bird artists as roger tory peterson and david sibley are measured. 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. Thus, audubons wish to preserve nature is presently still fulfilled.
Very rare 1839 1st edition copy of john james audubons, a synopsis of the birds of america. A copy of the worlds most expensive book, john james audubons 19thcentury masterpiece birds of america, is set for auction later this month and is. John james audubon is undoubtedly one of the greatest nature painters and writers in history. He discovered a way to mount freshly killed specimens on sharpened wires set into gridded. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. The audubon society baby elephant folio roger tory peterson. The watercolors for the birds of america holly hatchner, annette blaugrund, theodore e. Mar, 2001 this is the best book available for anyone who wishes to see accurate reproductions of audubon s greatest work, the double elephant folio edition of birds of america. Worlds most expensive book, birds of america, set to. John james audubon came to america as a dapper eighteenyearold eager to make his fortune. John james audubons birds of america is a portal into the natural world. Collection of 288 audubon paintings, in color, accompanied by captions by ornothologist ludlow griscom 1890 1959, known as the dean of the birdwatchers. 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. The birds of america by john james audubon in pictures.
First published in double elephant size approximately a metre tall in the first half of the nineteenth century, it is famous for. Including the redwinged blackbird, painted bunting, wood duck, great blue heron, rubythroated hummingbird, purple finch, and blue jay, 46 different species of birds from all parts of the united states are included in this book. 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. 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.
John james audubon jeanjacques audubon april 26, 1785 january 27, 1851 was a french american ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. John james audubon s birds of america is a portal into the natural world. From flying to nesting, eating to singingwhat birds are doing, and why sibley guides david allen sibley. 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 was inferior to his own. In addition to the prints, each birds page also includes a recording of the animals call, plus extensive written texts from the period of the books. John james audubon and the making of the birds of america william souder. A synopsis of the birds of north america by john james audubon free ebook project gutenberg.
Carolina parrot carolina parrot, handcoloured engraving and aquatint by robert havell, jr. 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. Audubon s birds of america coloring book by john james audubon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Gilt ornigraphical design on red cloth front cover, no lettering on spine. 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. The birds of america, volume 6 the birds of america, john james audubon volume 6 of the birds of america. Dec 12, 2009 1986 arc identifier 55178 local identifier 306aam22. Norton in italy under the auspices of joel oppenheimer, a distinguished dealer of bird prints. 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. The large format books may be bulky on a coffee table, but a smaller format just. One of the most valuable natural history books ever published, it shows birds in natural positions and in their native habitats.
I bought this book right after i bought the john james audubon coloring book as i wanted to watercolor some of the pictures so thought this would be helpful in getting the colors accurate. Kennedy from originals by john james aububon 17851851, the most famous american painter. 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. John james audubon 17851851 was not the first person to attempt to paint and describe all the birds of america alexander wilson has that distinction, but for half a century he was the young countrys dominant wildlife artist. The life and art of john james audubon nancy plain. Favorite audubon birds of america by john james audubon. Books by john james audubon author of birds of america. The birds of america by john james audubon alibris. Macmillan co publisher with lithographs by duenewald printing. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Collecting the birds of america by audubon, john james. Audubon originally published the book by subscription.
All 435 illustrations from john j audubons birds of america are. Jan 20, 2014 in 1824, three years after audubon began birds of america in earnest, he was ready to publish. Bowen in 18401844 size is approximately 6 12 x 10 inches genuine audubon lithograph blue mountain warbler male pl. Popular edition of john james audubon s 1785 1851 illustrations of birds of america began painting in 1840. Birds of america by john james audubon, first edition abebooks. This first edition of birds of america by john james audubon, originally bought by the duke of portland some time after 1828, is expected to become the worlds most expensive book when it is. Audubon s original plates, numbered to correspond to the pages of the book, have been reproduced in color on the covers. John james audubon books list of books by author john james. The lifes work of both a lover and observer of birds and nature. The works of art he created gave the world its idea. Birds of america john james audubon bauman rare books. John james audubon 17851851 the birds of america, from.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The story behind john james audubons birds of america rare. Dreaming of having his work published in a book, audubon traveled to england in 1826. Buy the birds of america by john james audubon isbn. See more ideas about john james audubon, birds of america and audubon prints. Produced in collaboration with the uniquely talented printerartist, robert havell, audubon s massive work is as the subtitle of this book says the most famous bird book in the. In the 1830s audubon also wrote his ornithological biography which described the habits of the birds he drew. Highresolution images courtesy of the john james audubon center at mill grove, audubon, pa, and the montgomery county, pa, audubon collection.
He had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds, and he would spend the next thirtyfive years traveling to the remotest regions of his new countryoften alone and on footto render his avian subjects on paper. A synopsis of the birds of north america by john james. He was notable for his expansive studies to document all types of american birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. He interspersed these bird biographies with episodes on life in america during this turbulent period.
Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. The making of an american, which got me interested in obtaining a copy of birds of america. Each subscriber received five plates at a time as they were printed. John james audubon 1785 1851 was an ornithologist of the early 19th century responsible for creating the largest and most beautiful illustrated bird book. The covers of the book have some wear and light soiling with a little bit of. One of the finest ornithological works ever printed audubon, john james. Audubons famous work is a must have for every bird or nature enthusiast. The sevenvolume birds of america includes images of six nowextinct birds. If you follow them, you will not only have a great deal of coloring pleasure, but you will also learn how to identify many important birds. Audubons birds of america coloring book by john james. Old 1937 john james audubon the birds of america book. Nearly all later ornithological works were inspired by audubon s artistry and high standards, and birds of america is considered one of the greatest examples of book. 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.