The birds of America ; from original drawings by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Societies of London & Edinburgh and of

The birds of America ; from original drawings by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Societies of London & Edinburgh and of the Linnaean & Zoological Societies of London member of the Natural History Society of Paris, of the Lyceum of New York, & c. & c. & c.

Author: Audubon, John James (American, 1785-1851)

Year: 1834

Audubon, John James (American, 1785-1851) The birds of America ; from original drawings by John James Audubon, Fellow of the Royal Societies of London & Edinburgh and of the Linnaean & Zoological Societies of London member of the Natural History Society of Paris, of the Lyceum of New York, & c. & c. & c. London. Published by the Author. Vol. I: 1827-30; Vol. II: 1831-34; Vol. III: 1834-35; Vol. IIII: 1835 to 38. June 20. Four double elephant folio volumes. 435 hand-colored engravings, some with aquatint. In half dark blue morocco and dark blue cloth; stamped and tooled in blind and gilt; spine gilt; blue marbled edges. Spine height: 39 inches. Audubon sold these engravings of his original paintings through subscriptions. Audubon executed 433 paintings, which in turn were made into 435 plates. The plates were issued in 87 sets of five plates. W. H. Lizars engraved the first ten plates in 1826 and 1827, but was unable to continue when his studio went on strike. Audubon in turn went to Robert Havell, Senior, who worked on some of the early plates but soon thereafter felt he was too old to undertake such a grand task. Havell’s son, Robert Havell, Junior, started helping his father with