The Birds of America
Artist
John James Audubon
(American, 1785 - 1851)
Lithographer
John T. Bowen
(American, 1801 - 1856)
Date1843
Mediumlithograph on paper, hand-colored and printed text; bound in brown morocco, gilt panelled boards with modern morocco slip cases
DimensionsOctavo: 10 × 6 1/2 inches (25.4 × 16.5 cm)
Credit LinePurchase of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, 1992
Object number11.1.18.F
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
DescriptionThere are 500 plates contained in the 7 volumes. Volume includes plates 351 -420.Label TextThe royal octavo version of “The Birds of America” brought John James Audubon’s work to larger audiences. The words royal octavo refer to the size of paper. Audubon published the first edition between 1840 and 1844. Most subscribers had their sets bound in seven volumes. Audubon noted that the Dusky Duck was also called Black Duck. He observed it from Labrador to Texas. He wrote, “On the 30th of April, 1837, my son discovered a nest on Galveston Island, Texas. . . . On the same island, on successive days, we saw many of these Ducks, which by their actions, shewed that they also had nests.”
ProvenancePurchased April 29, 1992 through (Christie's, New York, New York) by the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation[1]; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art
| 1. J.J. Audubon, The Birds of America & Other Important Books on April 24, 1992, sale 7482, lot 3
On View
On view
