Lot 343
Audubon, John James. Le Petit Caporal, Plate LXXV. (1785-1851) French Haiti born, American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter Audubon was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations that depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book entitled The Birds of America (1827–1839) is considered the finest ever illustrated and researched. This monumental work consists of 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species, made from engraved copper plates of various sizes depending on the size of the image. The original edition was engraved in aquatint by Robert Havell, Jr. A hand-aquatinted, copper plate engraving with the J. Whatman watermark dated 1833 and measures 30 x 21½". Engraving was trimmed for framing from full sheet of 39 x 26½". There has been expert paper restoration in upper right corner within plate area from a puncture, the repair 3 x 3" square, and does encroach into plate number. Image of merlin or pigeon hawk, is very clean with excellent colors. Original Audubon aquatints from the early 1800s are highly prized. And with regard to the full volume set, The Economist (2010) in its ranking of the most expensive books of all time has five places in the top ten occupied by The Birds of America. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500
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| Realized $1,125 |
