Books

New York: V.G. Audubon, Roe Lockwood & Son, 1860. 7 volumes, octavo. (10 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches). 500 hand-coloured lithographs. Contemporary half brown morocco and marbled paper boards The fourth octavo edition of Audubon's "Birds": an important American color plate book and one of the most desirable books produced in 19th-century America. The octavo editions of Audubon's The Birds of America are certainly the most famous and accessible of American color plate books. They served many purposes for Audubon. First, the octavo edition was a moneymaker, successfully marketed throughout the United States on a scale that the great cost of the original Birds made impossible. Second, it was another step toward proving himself as good a scientific naturalist as the "closet" naturalists who had scorned him, combining a detailed text with careful observations next to his plates. Third, the smaller format allowed a more reasonable arrangement, by genus and species, than the headlong production…

"The Birds of America" is a monumental work by John James Audubon, published as a series between 1827 and 1838. It is one of the most famous and celebrated ornithological works in the world, known for its life-size, hand-colored, engraved plates of birds from the United States. Audubon's work stands out for its combination of artistic beauty and scientific accuracy. The collection features 435 plates, depicting more than 700 bird species, many of which were being documented for the first time. Audubon employed a unique method of mounting dead birds in natural positions on wires as a reference, which helped him create more dynamic illustrations. His attention to detail and commitment to depicting birds in their natural habitats made "The Birds of America" not only a major scientific achievement but also an artistic masterpiece. Audubon's work had a significant impact on ornithology and art in the 19th century, contributing to the burgeoning interest in bird study and conservation in America and Europe. The original editions of "The Birds of America" are among the most sought-after and valuable books in the world, prized by collectors and institutions for their historical and aesthetic value.