Audubon's Birds of America: The Royal Octavo Edition - Hardcover

Audubon, John James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1571450122 ISBN 13: 9781571450128

Publisher: Thunder Bay Pr, 1994

Synopsis

500 original color plates. 1,056 pp. 8 x 10. Orig. $100.00.

About this title

Review:

In the early 1800s John James Audubon embarked on an ambitious twin journey--a physical journey around a largely unknown North America, and an artistic journey aimed at painting all of the continent's birds. While he didn't get to every species, he studied and painted a majority of the country's bird life, bringing a new understanding to science as well as the interested layperson. Also noteworthy from an artistic standpoint, his paintings depicted the birds in natural positions in their native habitats. To this day, these plates remain the most famous wildlife artwork on display. All birders and nature lovers who covet Audubon's landmark work will be grateful for the first-rate prints assembled in the affordable Octavo collection. The large hardcover book includes reprints of the original 500 plates from the First Royal Octavo Edition of 1841, lovingly reproduced on quality paper. An introduction by Audubon scholar Suzanne Low provides background history and criticism.

From the Back Cover:

Audubon's Birds of North America is the most famous book of wildlife drawings ever published. It is not well known that Audubon brought it out in two distinct editions in his own lifetime. The oversized, double elephant folio has been reissued many times, but always at a very high price. Audubon also put out another version in a smaller size, the "octavo," that contains 65 more plates than are in the oversize edition.

The present volume includes all of Audubon's 500 original plates, meticulously reproduced to full size from the first octavo edition printed in 1841. Taken as a whole they represent an astonishing scientific and artistic feat. In his introduction to the first edition, Audubon says that it was his desire to bring The Birds of America out at "such a price, as would enable every student or lover of nature to place it in his library." This volume seeks to fulfill his stated intention and make his classic work available to the wide reading public.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thunder Bay Pr
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 1571450122
• ISBN 13: 9781571450128
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 1056