A rare copy of audubons birds of america heads to auction to. 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. It was first published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, in edinburgh and london. One of the highlights among the 33 audubon prints in the bonhams auction is snowy owl pl. National audubon society field guide to north american birds. Eastern region, revised edition paperback september 27, 1994. Featuring nearly 700 vivid, fullcolor photographs, they. The birds of america, the viviparous quadrupeds of north america achieved an impressive 3,770,000 usd. One of the most valuable illustrated books ever produced, a first edition of john james audubon s the birds of america, went up for auction at christies in new york, june 14th, and sold for usd. A first edition of birds of america and a set of audubon s. Through the book, audubon discovered 25 new species and 12 new subspecies.
A copy of john james audubon s early19thcentury illustrated birds of america sold in london tonight for 7. The book, which was written by saverio manetti and illustrated by. His major work, a colorplate book entitled the birds of america 18271839, is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. A lot of nine books about the american ornithologist and naturalist john james audubon. Popular edition 1950, john james audubon 1954, up the missouri with audubon. Audubon, john james, roger tory peterson, and virginia marie peterson. A complete first edition set of john james audubons gloriously illustrated the birds of america 18271838 goes up for auction june 14. Books by national audubon society author of national. This lot includes audubon by constance rourke 1936, a copy on the road with john james audubon signed by authors mary durant and michael harwood 1980, audubon s birds of america. At sothebys auction house in london, up on the block was audubon s masterpiece, the birds of america, one of the largest and rarest books in the world which fetched over ten million. The four volumes are three feet tall and among them contain. The national audubon society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the americas using science, advocacy, education, and ontheground conservation. Mar 26, 2015 timeless illustrations from birds of america by ornithologist, artist, and naturalist john james audubon.
Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Audubon s auctioneers is the leading auction house of south jersey. But, despite his frequent later residencies in europe promoting and overseeing the production of the birds. In the meantime, you can reach out to the mass audubon shop in lincoln to inquire about any products, including these top picks. Following that success, he returned to america and set out to issue a smaller version that would include more birds. The success of audubon s first birds of america brought audubon worldwide acclaim. See more ideas about audubon birds, john james audubon and birds of america. 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. 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. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubons doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction.
Cloth on boards with dust jacket included, lavishly illustrated in color. The winning bid was a record auction price for a printed book and was placed by londonbased art dealer michael tollemache, who outbid three. Birds of america held the record for the most money paid at auction for any. Not all of the specimens illustrated in the work were collected by audubon. At the age of six he began with sea shells, and soon graduated to coins, the gateway drug to. The auction was a rare chance to own one of the best preserved editions of the 19th century masterpiece, with its 435 handcoloured illustrations. Past show featuring works by larry rivers, kristen schiele, pedro barbeito, kent williams, alfred steiner, jorge santos, aaron johnson, thomas frontini, nelson loskamp, eve wood, david jacobs, patrick. This set of first day covers from around the world features magnificent artwork by the greatest of all bird painters. National audubon society has 199 books on goodreads with 16014 ratings. Collection of audubon books and nature programs ebth. This piece, depicting a hutchinss barnacle goose, comes from the amsterdam edition of john james audubon s birds of america and is identified as plate number cclxxvii in the upper right corner of the image. Birds of america by john james audubon, hardcover abebooks. Audubon, john james, roger tory peterson, and virginia.
Guide to collecting john james audubon the value of. 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. National book auctions reserves the right to relist in a later auction, any lots for which payment is not received within ten days of the auction and in that event, the bidder agrees to pay national book auctions. What makes audubon s the birds of america such a great and desirable book.
But birds of america by john james audubon, made in 1827, was just sold in auction to an anonymous collector. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubon s doubleelephant folio of the birds of america, will go to auction in new york city. The collection of bird songs and calls featured in the birds of north america field guide on the national audubon society website is comprised of over. This is the national audubon societys collection of john james audubon s birds of the world series. The birds of america is a book by naturalist and painter john james audubon, containing. Great things are coming to mass audubon s online shop. National audubon societys most popular book is national audubon society field gu. Books by john james audubon author of birds of america. Guide to north american birds national audubon society. J ohn james audubon, whose name is synonymous with american ornithology, was born in les cayes, haiti then saintdomingue in 1785, and lived in france from the ages of five to eighteen. An employee poses with a page depicting a snowy owl, from john james audubon s book birds of america during a photocall for the frederick, 2nd lord hesketh collection, at sothebys.
National audubon society field guide to north american. A silent auction of rare audubon prints, natural history. On june 14, one of the worlds most expensive books, john james audubon s doubleelephant folio of the birds. Includes two book club edition hardcovers, the audubon book of true nature stories 1958 and audubon s birds of america, first printing 1950. Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale. Christies auction house in manhattan identified the. Twothirds of north american bird species are at risk of extinction from climate change. But calling john james audubon s masterpiece of ornithological art, the birds of america, a book is to stretch the limits of the term. National audubon society 1990 western birds field guide book.
Audubon s birds of america, the national audubon society baby elephant folio. A vintage book of bird illustrations by john james audobon was the third most expensive printed book purchased at an auction. John james audubon s most popular book is birds of america. Sothebys auctions audubon items by stinnett, donna b.
Christies auctions first edition of audubons the birds. The sale was led by the birds of america 182738, four monumental volumes of 435 handcolored aquatint plates depicting all of the thenknown species of birds. For more than 100 years, audubon has inspired people to enjoy, appreciate and protect the natural world. Birds of america by john james audubon sets booksale record. View john james audubon s 5,929 artworks on artnet. John james audubon has 175 books on goodreads with 1988 ratings.
1234 374 1133 849 418 1187 364 506 327 768 406 531 1169 134 919 1017 124 1452 1319 1380 455 580 1550 1433 1120 145 1046 338 387 370 581 184 338 629 1266 1355 1100