Antique Prints, Maps, & Books of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 653:
Description
This exceptional chromolithograph with original hand-coloring is from the Bien Edition of John James Audubon’s
Birds of America. The publication for the work was begun in America in 1858 but was halted due to the Civil War in 1860, with only 150 plates every completed. These are considered original Audubon prints due to the involvement of Audubon’s son and brother – John Woodhouse Audubon and Victor Gifford Audubon. Due to the very limited run and halted publication process, the Bien edition is the rarest of Audubon’s folios.
Audubon’s sons began this publication with the assistance of Julius Bien. Bien was a New York printer that was one of the earliest developers of the process of chromolithography. He transferred Havell’s copper plates to lithographic stones and used some times as many as thirty printing stages as well as additional engraving and coloring to reproduce the original plates. The work remains one of the most successful and finest examples of the chromolithography process.
John James Audubon (1785-1851) is perhaps the most famous of early American naturalists.
Birds of America is one of the best examples of hand-colored work in America and is highly collectible.
Paper Size: ~ 38 1/2” by 23 1/2”
Paper Type or Special Features: Hand-colored Folio Chromolithograph
Condition report:
The work is in good to very good condition overall. There is some worm hole damage, the plate has been backed archivally. There are several tears along the left, right, and bottom margins with older repairs. There is a 1 1/4\" tear that runs into the image in the bottom center with a 3/8” piece missing that is backed archivally. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
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