Audubon, John James | First octavo edition of Audubon's greatest achievement

Property from the Library of Jay Michael and Clayre Haft

Audubon, John James

The Birds of America, from Drawings Made in the United States and Their Territories. New York: J. J. Audubon, Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844

7 vols., royal 8vo (255 x 165 mm). Title-pages, 500 hand-colored lithographed plates after Audubon by W.E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly and others, printed and colored by J.T. Bowen, with tissue guards, wood-engraved anatomical diagrams in text, subscribers' lists present in all volumes; lacking the half-titles, foxing chiefly to text leaves but also affecting plates, occasional light offsetting from text to plates. Handsomely bound in full dark green morocco, beveled boards, covers elaborately paneled in gilt, with central filigree ornament in gilt, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and fourth gilt-lettered, others with repeat filigree motif in gilt, all edges gilt; extremities rubbed, split to head of vol.1, upper board of vol.2, detached, lower joint of vol.3 split, lower joint of vol.6 split and nearly detached, upper joint of vol.7 repaired and lower joint split, other starting. 

First octavo edition, sumptuously bound.

After completing the double-elephant folio edition at great expense in England, Audubon returned to the United States and used the Philadelphia firm of Bowen to produce a more profitable octavo version under the supervision of his sons. It enjoyed a tremendous success and established his reputation. The octavo edition adds 65 new images to the original plate count of the double-elephant folio.

A very attractive copy.

REFERENCE:

Ayer/Zimmer 22; Nissen 51; Reese, American Color Plate Books 34; Sabin 2364; cf. Tyler, Audubon's Great National Work

PROVENANCE:

Francis Fitz Randolph (bookplates to front pastedowns)