Books

New York: George R. Lockwood and Son, [1870-1871]. 8 volumes in 4. Octavo (10 1/2 x 7 3/4 , 265mm x 185mm). Bound in later half brown Morocco over cloth covered boards. On the spine, 4 raised bands with gilt lettering and a bird. This is the complete text to the rare final octavo edition of Audubon s Birds of America bound without plates. Extremities and hinges rubbed. Marbled endpapers. Some tanning throughout. Ron Tyler, in Audubon s Great National Work, quotes a letter by the publisher s son, Richard B. Lockwood, noting that some time after 1870 the lithographed octavo plates were destroyed when they fell through the floors in a Philadelphia building. The date of the disaster at the Lockwood firm suggests that this final octavo edition was produced in 1871. John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a French-American artist, naturalist and ornithologist. He pursued extensive studies documenting all types of American birds. His Birds of America is considered one of the finest works of ornithology ever completed. It established him as a great scientist with his careful, detailed research, as well as a talented artist. The octavo Birds of America was originally issued in 100 parts, each containing five plates executed by the Philadelphia lithographer, J.T. Bowen. Changes in subscribers and increased press runs created numerous states of plates as they were reprinted. Ron Tyler lays out the whole story of the book s production, with detailed information about every aspect of the project. He describes the difficulties of book production and marketing that illustrates the world of color printing in mid-19th-century America. Tyler, Audubon's Great National Work, pp. 129, 165 note 10; Nissen IVB 51; Sabin 2364.

"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.