Audubon, John James.

First edition, 4 volumes, broadsheets (volume 1: 97.2 x 65.4cm. (38¼ x 25¾"); volume 2: 97.1 x 63.9cm. (38¼ x 25⅛"); volume 3: 97.2 x 63.8cm. (38¼ x 25⅛"); volume 4: 97.5 x 64.5cm. (38⅜ x 25⅜")), 4 engraved titles, 435 magnificent hand-coloured etched plates with line-engraving and aquatint, by W.H. Lizars of Edinburgh and by Robert Havell and Robert Havell, Jr. of London, after the original life-size watercolours by Audubon, watermarks J. Whatman or J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1827-1838

A plate-by-plate survey of the copy including watermarks and notes on all but the most minor defects is available from the London or New York Book Departments, and on Sothebys.com.

Henry Witham, Lartington, Co. Durham, subscriber number eleven as recorded in Audubon's Ornithological Biography, and noted in Audubon's ledger ("to July 1838 / Bound with locks"), volume I also bearing a presentation inscription from Witham's wife "From Eliza Witham with sincere affection. June the 24th, 1831"; thence by family descent to Francis Somerled Silvertop, sale, Christie's, 3 July 1951, lot 198 "a magnificent copy", £7,000, bought by William H. Robinson for Frederick, 2nd Lord Hesketh

Henry Witham (1799-1844) was a notable early paleobotanist, and the first Englishman to examine the internal structure of fossil plants. In 1833 he published his work on the subject, The Internal Structure of Fossil Vegetables found in the Carboniferous and Oolitic deposits of Great Britain. Witham had been born Henry Thomas Silvertop, but upon his marriage to the heiress Eliza Witham, he took her name and arms. Audubon's journal entry for 3 December 1826 tells of how the naturalist dined with Witham at Edinburgh, noting that "I determined in an instant that this gentleman was a gentleman indeed, quite wealthy, and polite and versed in all courteous ways. We dined, we drank coffee, we supped at 11. At 12 the ladies bid us good night. I wished and longed to retire, but it was impossible. Mr. Bridges talked much. We all talked much, for I believe the good wine of Mr. Witham had a most direct effect... And at half past one, after been dubbed a great philosopher and an extraordinary man, my health drank, &c., &c., I retired with Dr. Knox, but left Mr. B[ridges] and Mr. W[itham] at their whiskey toddy" (as quoted in Fries, pp.333-334).

Audubon plate-by-plate conditionVol. 1 Title J. Whatman 1830; vertical crease with very short separation at lower margin1 Watermark obscured; Havell retouched plate; plate number cropped; finger-staining in lower margin2 J. Whatman 1830; Havell retouched plate3 J. Whatman 1830; Lizars imprint4 J. Whatman 1830; Lizars imprint5 J. Whatman Turkey Mill; Lizars Imprint; vertical crease just outside left plate-mark, 2cm tear in upper margin6 J. Whatman 1830; Havell retouched plate; plate number just obscured by binding; short 2cm tear at right margin just into image7 J. Whatman 1830; Havell retouched plate; 2cm tear in upper margin8 J. Whatman 1830; Havell retouched plate; light offsetting from preceding plate9 J. Whatman 1830; Havell retouched plate10 J. Whatman 1830; Havell retouched plate; offsetting on verso from next plate11 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, 1827; very light marginal spotting; tiny chip at fore-edge; very minor bloom to neck plumage12 J. Whatman 183013 J. Whatman 1830; light soiling at foot of plate14 J. Whatman 1830; vertical crease or tear just catching top left of plate15 J. Whatman 1830; faint vertical crease not affecting plate; offsetting on verso from next plate16 J. Whatman 183017 J. Whatman; faint offsetting from preceding plate18 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate; finger-soiling at foot19 J. Whatman 183020 J. Whatman 183021 J. Whatman 183022 J. Whatman 183023 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate24 J. Whatman 183025 J. Whatman 183026 J. Whatman 183027 J. Whatman 183028 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate29 J. Whatman 183030 J. Whatman 183031 J. Whatman 1830; infinitessimal bloom; 6cm crease at head extending into image (clouds only)32 J. Whatman 1830; slight soiling around imprint lower left33 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate34 J. Whatman 183035 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting on verso from following plate36 J. Whatman 183037 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate38 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate39 J. Whatman 183040 J. Whatman 183041 J. Whatman 1830; upper plate mark and tip of highest branch just obscured by binding42 J. Whatman 1830; 2cm repaired tear at fore-edge43 J. Whatman 1830; light offsetting from previous plate44 J. Whatman 1830; preserving deckle on fore- and lower edge45 J. Whatman 1830; offsetting on verso from following plate46 J. Whatman 1830; 2cm tear at lower margin47 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 182?8; stain at inner margin extending past plate mark, but not affecting image48 J. Whatman 1830; fainter stain and crease, both outside plate mark49 J. Whatman 183050 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting on verso from following plate51 J. Whatman 183052 J. Whatman 1830; 2cm tear at upper margin53 J. Whatman 1830; offsetting from preceding plate54 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 182855 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1829; faint offsetting on recto from following plate; 2cm tear ar top margin56 J. Whatman 1830; 2cm tear at top margin (this running through to plate 69, diminishing each time); two short repaired tears at lower margin57 J. Whatman 1830; light offsetting from previous plate58 J. Whatman 183059 J. Whatman 183060 J. Whatman 1830; very light offsetting on verso from preceding plate61 J. Whatman 183062 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate63 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 182864 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate65 J. Whatman 183066 J. Whatman 183067 J. Whatman 183068 J. Whatman 183069 J. Whatman Turkey Mill70 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate71 J. Whatman 183072 J. Whatman 183073 J. Whatman 1830; light offsetting from previous plate74 J. Whatman 183075 J. Whatman 183076 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible77 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate78 J. Whatman 183079 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 182980 J. Whatman 1830; light discoloration and faint offsetting on verso from following plate81 J. Whatman 183082 J. Whatman 183083 J. Whatman 1830; faint offsetting from preceding plate84 J. Whatman 183085 J. Whatman 1830; light offsetting on verso from following plate86 J. Whatman 1830; sewing broken at foot, plate loosening with no loss, 7.5 cm neatly repaired tear in lower margin87 J. Whatman 1830; light offsetting from previous plate88 J. Whatman 183089 J. Whatman 183090 J. Whatman 183091 J. Whatman 183092 J. Whatman 1830; very light offsetting from preceding plate; small repair in upper margin outside plate-mark93 J. Whatman 183094 J. Whatman 183095 J. Whatman 183096 J. Whatman 1830; moderate bloom on tail plumage; light crease in left margin97 J. Whatman 183098 J. Whatman 1830; very light offsetting from preceding plate99 J. Whatman 1830100 J. Whatman 1830Vol. 2 Title Lightly foxed with short vertical crease at head101 J. Whatman 1830; 3cm tear at top margin102 J. Whatman 1830; light offsetting from preceding plate; horizontal crease at fore-edge103 J. Whatman 1830104 J. Whatman 1830105 J. Whatman 1830; tiny hole in top margin, repaired106 Watermark obscured; bloom-spotted107 J. Whatman 1831108 J. Whatman 1830109 J. Whatman 1831110 J. Whatman 1830; 2cm repaired tear at fore-edge111 J. Whatman 1831; 1cm repaired tear at margin112 J. Whatman 1831; 3.5cm tear at head of margin113 J. Whatman 1831114 J. Whatman 1831115 J. Whatman 1831116 J. Whatman 1831117 J. Whatman 1831118 J. Whatman 1831119 J. Whatman 1831120 J. Whatman 1831121 J. Whatman, date obscured; descender of "y" in caption just shaved; moderate bloom; unobtrusive, minuscule pin-hole in background122 J. Whatman 1831; 5cm repaired tear at lower margin123 J. Whatman 1831124 J. Whatman 1831125 J. Whatman 1831126 J. Whatman 1831; a couple of small marginal spots127 J. Whatman 1831128 J. Whatman 1831129 J. Whatman 1831; 1.5cm repaired tear at top margin130 J. Whatman 1831131 J. Whatman 1832; 1cm paper flaw at foot of plate-mark132 J. Whatman 1832133 J. Whatman 1832134 J. Whatman 1832135 J. Whatman 1832; small chip to upper fore-edge corner136 J. Whatman 1832; repaired paper flaw137 J. Whatman 1832138 J. Whatman 1832139 J. Whatman 1832140 J. Whatman 1832141 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, date obscured; very slight bloom142 J. Whatman 1832143 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible144 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; very light discoloration to background; light marginal 145 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible146 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1832147 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible148 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible149 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible150 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible151 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; moderate bloom152 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible153 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible154 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible155 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible156 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1832; 2.5cm tear repaired at lower margin; 4cm crease at top margin157 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; minor staining in lower right margin158 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible159 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible160 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; some light foxing and offsetting from following plate161 J. Whatman 1834; moderate bloom162 J. Whatman 1833; some offsetting from previous plate163 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible164 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible165 J. Whatman 1833; light offsetting from following plate; slight marginal foxing166 J. Whatman 1834; caption shaved; imprint cut close; moderate bloom167 J. Whatman 1834; very light offsetting at head168 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834169 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834170 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834171 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1833; tiny chip at upper fore-edge corner172 J. Whatman 1833173 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1833174 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1833175 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1833; foxing and light spotting, chiefly marginal176 J. Whatman 1833; last figure of plate number cropped177 J. Whatman 1833178 J. Whatman 1833; light offsetting from previous plate179 J. Whatman 1833180 J. Whatman 1833; faint offsetting from preceding plate; verso lightly offset from following plate181 J. Whatman 1833; short repaired tear in lower margin182 J. Whatman 1833; some offsetting from the previous plate183 J. Whatman 1833184 J. Whatman 1833185 J. Whatman 1833; slight offsetting on verso from next plate186 J. Whatman 1834187 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1833 skight foxing in upper margin188 J. Whatman 1834; some offsetting from preceding plate189 J. Whatman 1834190 J. Whatman 1833; some slight discoloration191 J. Whatman 1834192 J. Whatman 1834193 J. Whatman 1834194 J. Whatman 1834195 J. Whatman 1834196 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible197 J. Whatman 1834; offset from preceding plate198 J. Whatman 1834199 J. Whatman 1834200 J. Whatman 1834; 2cm repaired tear at right margin; very light marginal spotting and soilingVol. 3 Title Minor foxing; 1cm tear at top margin201 Watermark obscured; moderate bloom202 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; plate torn across and repaired; minor marginal spotting203 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible204 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834205 J. Whatman 1833206 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; tiniest chip at head207 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834208 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834209 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; additional 3cm repaired tear210 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; light marginal offsetting from next plate211 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible212 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, 1834213 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible214 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible215 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; very faint discoloration216 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834217 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible218 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834219 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834220 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; some light discoloration in margins221 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; small colourist's flaw on male duck222 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; minor crease at fore-edge223 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; light marginal discoloration and soiling224 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; minor marginal spotting225 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834; light marginal discoloration226 Watermark obscured; right-most part of neck bound close without loss227 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible228 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834229 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible230 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible231 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; caption lightly inked232 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; light offsetting from preceding plate233 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834234 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible235 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834236 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; creased as printed at foot extending into image237 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1834238 J. Whatman 1834239 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835240 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835241 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835242 J. Whatman 1834; minuscule repaired tear at foot; very faint marginal offsetting243 J. Whatman 1834; very faint offsetting from preceding plate244 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835245 J. Whatman 1834; light marginal discoloration246 J. Whatman 1834; second line of caption cropped247 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; some bloom248 J. Whatman 1834; light offsetting in margin249 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835250 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; printed in blue251 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835; imprint cut close at fore-edge252 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835253 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1835254 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; plate number corrected in MS as normal255 J. Whatman 1834256 J. Whatman 1835257 J. Whatman 1834; small patch of soiling in background258 J. Whatman 1835259 J. Whatman 1835260 J. Whatman 1835; faintest offsetting from preceding plate261 J. Whatman 1835262 J. Whatman 1835; lightly offset in margin263 J. Whatman 1835; faint marginal discoloration264 J. Whatman 1835265 J. Whatman 1835; offset on verso from following plate266 J. Whatman 1835; second and third line of caption cropped267 J. Whatman 1835; some light offsetting and foxing268 J. Whatman 1835; some faint marginal discoloration269 J. Whatman 1835; marginal spotting270 J. Whatman 1835; spotted271 J. Whatman 1835; moderate bloom272 J. Whatman 1835; very faint offsetting from preceding plate273 J. Whatman 1835274 J. Whatman 1835; minor marginal spotting275 J. Whatman 1835; minor marginal spotting276 J. Whatman 1835277 J. Whatman 1835278 J. Whatman 1835; some faint offsetting and marginal spotting279 J. Whatman 1836280 J. Whatman 1836281 J. Whatman; descender of first letter of caption shaved282 J. Whatman 1836283 J. Whatman 1836284 J. Whatman 1835; faintly offset from preceding plate285 J. Whatman 1836286 J. Whatman 1836287 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin288 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; faintest offsetting from preceding plate; pin hole in lower margin outside plate mark289 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; light offsetting from preceding plate; tiny marginal stain290 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; some light marginal discoloration; offsetting on verso from next plate291 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin292 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; light offsetting from preceding plate293 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin294 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; offsetting from preceding plate295 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; lightly offset from preceding plate296 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin297 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; offsetting from preceding plate; 6cm repaired tear within plate-mark298 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; offset from preceding plate299 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; lightly offset from preceding plate300 J. Whatman 1836; short c.2cm repaired tear at inner lower margin; faint offsetting from preceding plate; a few light fox spotsTitle Vol. IV Severe vertical crease; repaired marginal tears at fore-edge and at head and foot of inner margin301 J. Whatman 1836; 4 repaired marginal tears, one affecting part number; light horizontal crease302 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tears at head and foot of inner margin303 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tears at head and foot of inner margin; loght offsetting from preceding plate and a couple of marginal foxing spots304 J. Whatman 1836; two repaired tears as above; horizontal crease; a few marginal foxing spots305 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tears as above306 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tears as above, but shorter307 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tears as above; minor offsetting from preceding plate in margin308 J. Whatman 1836; light offsetting from preceding plate; short repaired tears as above309 J. Whatman 1836; short repaired marginal tears as above310 J. Whatman 1836; short repaired marginal tears as above; some light foxing; offset on the verso from the following plate311 Watermark not visible; tear at upper margin extending into part number; moderate bloom312 J. Whatman 1836; light offsetting from preceding plate; one short tear at top margin313 J. Whatman 1836; very light offsetting from preceding plate; repaired tear at head of inner margin314 J. Whatman 1836; offsetting from preceding plate; short repaired tear at upper inner margin315 J. Whatman 1836; very light offsetting from preceding plate316 J. Whatman 1836; small repaired tear at inner head317 J. Whatman 1836; light offsetting from preceding plate; repaired tear as above318 J. Whatman 1836; light offsetting from preceding plate; repaired tear as above319 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tear as above320 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tear as above321 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tear as above322 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tear as above323 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tear as above324 J. Whatman 1836; repaired tear as above325 J. Whatman 1836326 J. Whatman 1836; unobtrusive stain in background327 J. Whatman 1836328 J. Whatman 1836329 J. Whatman 1836330 J. Whatman 1836; very light offsetting from next plate331 J. Whatman 1836; minor bloom-spotting on male332 J. Whatman 1836333 J. Whatman 1836334 J. Whatman 1836335 J. Whatman 1836336 J. Whatman 1836; short repaired tear in lower margin337 J. Whatman 1836; tear as above338 J. Whatman 1836; tear as above; very light offsetting from preceding plate339 J. Whatman 1836340 J. Whatman 1836; faint offsetting from preceding plate341 J. Whatman 1836342 J. Whatman 1836; faint scratch on male beak343 J. Whatman 1836344 J. Whatman 1836345 J. Whatman 1836; small staining in lower margin; faint offsetting from preceding plate346 J. Whatman 1836; plate number partially obscured in binding347 J. Whatman 1836; some offsetting from preceding plate348 J. Whatman 1836349 J. Whatman 1836; light offsetting from previous plate350 J. Whatman 1836; offsetting from next plate351 J. Whatman 1836352 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate353 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate354 J. Whatman 1837355 J. Whatman 1837; very faint offsetting from next plate356 J. Whatman 1837357 J. Whatman 1837358 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate359 J. Whatman 1837360 J. Whatman 1837361 J. Whatman 1837362 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate363 J. Whatman 1837364 J. Whatman 1837365 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from next plate366 J. Whatman 1837367 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate368 J. Whatman 1837369 J. Whatman 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate370 J. Whatman 1837371 Watermark not visible372 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, 1837; light offsetting from preceding plate373 J. Whatman 1837; offsetting from preceding plate374 J. Whatman 1837375 J. Whatman 1837376 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible; part number just obscured in binding377 J. Whatman 1837; faintly offset from preceding plate378 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1837; offset from preceding plate379 J. Whatman 1837380 J. Whatman 1837; light discoloration381 J. Whatman Turkey Mill, no date visible382 J. Whatman 1837; foxing, chiefly marginal383 J. Whatman Turkey Mill; 1837; foxing, chiefly marginal384 J. Whatman 1837385 J. Whatman 1837386 J. Whatman 1837; plate number lost in binding387 J. Whatman 1837388 J. Whatman 1837389 J. Whatman 1837390 J. Whatman 1837391 J. Whatman 1837392 J. Whatman 1837393 J. Whatman 1837394 J. Whatman 1837395 J. Whatman 1837396 J. Whatman Turkey Mill 1837397 J. Whatman 1837; border offset from preceding plate398 J. Whatman 1837; 1cm tear at foot399 J. Whatman 1837; 1cm tear at foot400 J. Whatman 1837401 J. Whatman 1837402 J. Whatman 1837403 J. Whatman 1837404 J. Whatman 1837405 J. Whatman 1837406 J. Whatman 1837407 J. Whatman 1837; moderate bloom408 J. Whatman 1837; offsetting from preceding plate409 J. Whatman 1837410 J. Whatman 1837; offset on verso from next plate411 J. Whatman 1837; plate number partially obscured in binding412 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate413 J. Whatman 1838; offset from preceding plate414 J. Whatman 1837415 J. Whatman 1837; faint offsetting from preceding plate416 J. Whatman 1838; offset from next plate417 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate418 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate419 J. Whatman 1838420 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate421 J. Whatman 1838; part number obscured in binding422 J. Whatman 1838423 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate424 J. Whatman 1838425 J. Whatman 1838; offset from next plate426 J. Whatman 1838; moderate bloom427 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate428 J. Whatman 1838; light offsetting from preceding plate429 J. Whatman 1838430 J. Whatman 1838; light spotting and offsetting431 Watermark indistinct; light offsetting from next plate; two light horizontal scratches through neck432 J. Whatman 1838; some light marginal discoloration433 J. Whatman 1838; lightly offset from preceding plate434 J. Whatman 1838435 J. Whatman 1838; faint spotting; 2cm repaired tear at foot
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A fine subscriber's copy of Audubon's "double elephant folio", intimately associated with the artist himself, and preserved in its original binding as noted in Audubon's own ledger.

Condition: a fine copy in excellent condition, with fresh, vibrant colours. Noted minor defects include: some finger-soiling; offsetting from preceding or following plates; occasional moderate surface bloom or bloom-spots; occasional light discolouration, foxing or spotting; the larger plates with a few instances of plate numbers, part numbers, and parts of captions being obscured by the binding, shaved or cropped; a few creases, some extending beyond the plate-mark; some minor tears, most repaired, chiefly marginal, a few extending to within the plate-mark; plates 52-69 with short tear at upper margin, initially 2.5cm., then diminishing; tiny chip at fore-edge of plates 87-95, neatly repaired; plates 201-212 with short tear at top inner margin, initially 1cm., then diminishing; plates 287-300 with short 2cm. tear repaired at inner lower margin, diminishing; plates 301-324 with short repaired tears or tear, affecting plate 301, otherwise marginal, diminishing; three or four tiny pin-holes, two in images; plate 202 torn entirely across and repaired; binding rubbed and rebacked, preserving original spines, some joints cracking

Binding: contemporary diced russia gilt by Alexander Banks, Edinburgh, with his ticket, the covers blocked in gilt with "Audubon's / Birds of America / Vol. I [-IV] / London ["Edinburgh" on volumes 3 and 4] / 1830–1834 [etc.]", surrounded by a blind tooled border with palm-frond motif, this surrounded by successive panelled foliate borders and fillets of varying width in gilt and blind, spines gilt in 7 compartments, each volume with two hinged locks, made by Barron or Cormack (this binding noted in Audubon's own ledger - see provenance note below - and illustrated in Fries following p.334)

Cabinet: the whole housed in a Victorian mahogany folio cabinet, second quarter of the nineteenth century, 5 sliding trays, the moroccan tooled leather inset top with cross banding, mounted on a plinth and recessed casters

Edition size and extant copies: Audubon included 161 names on his final published list of subscribers, but, while this is a strong indicator, it is not possible to give a totally accurate answer to the question of how many complete sets of the Birds of America were issued. Waldemar Fries's research, in his book The Double Elephant Folio, clearly shows that some people on the list could not have completed their subscription, and conversely that some people who are known to have had complete copies are not named. Also, at the end of printing in 1838, there were fifteen complete sets left over. Fries concludes that "the evidence suggests that the figure would certainly be less than 200, with the actual number somewhere between 175 and 200 copies" (p.140)

The last census of copies of The Birds of America was conducted by Suzanne M. Low, in her appendix to the updated 2006 edition of Fries's book. Low noted that "119 complete sets are known to exist in the world today. 107 are in institutions such as universities, libraries, museums, athenaeums, societies and the like. Twelve are in private hands".