| After the completion of Audubon's Double Elephant Folio Size edition by Robert Havell, Jr. in 1826-1938, Audubon decided to reissue the birds in a smaller format. Where the original large size work was priced at the unheard of price of $1000 for the complete set, Audubon sought to offer a much more affordable smaller version in order to reach a broader market. Priced at a more reasonable $100 for the compltete set of 500 bird images, the first edition of this now famous American work was offered by subscription only between 1840-1844 and is known as the Royal Octavo set of the "Birds of America." Subscribers received individual parts consisting of 5 birds per part about every two weeks. It took subscribers 4 years to receive all the parts to this edition. |
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The First Edition of the Royal Octavo "Birds of Amarica" was offered by subscription only between 1840-1844. At the time, one would subscribe to the entire work by sending $1.00 to Audubon in exchange for 5 hand colored stone lithographs that would be sent through the mail about every 2 weeks along with the acccompanying text for each bird. With 500 birds being the total issued, that means each subscriber paid $100 total for all the images and it took almost 4 years to receive the complete issue. Today, the same hand colored plates range from $100 to $2500 for the most desirable images. Only approximately 1200 subscribers purchased this first edition work and it is highly sought after by collectors today.
The Royal Octavo First Edition was completed between 1840-1844. Several subsequent editions were published between 1856-1870. The later editions are distinguished from the first by the use of colored printed backgrounds in shades of pale green-blue or beige, while the first edition has a completely white background for most of the birds - the exception being a blue background for some birds with white plumage. All the editions are hand colored works of stone lithography.<
These octavo edition works are considered to be some of the finest wildlife and birding art ever produced in America and are eagerly sought after by collectors worldwide. Owning an original lithographic artwork by John James Audubon is like holding a piece of American history in your hands.
The Royal Octavo First Edition was completed between 1840-1844. Several subsequent editions were published between 1856-1870. The later editions are distinguished from the first by the use of colored printed backgrounds in shades of pale green-blue or beige, while the first edition has a completely white background for most of the birds - the exception being a blue background for some birds with white plumage. All the editions are hand colored works of stone lithography.<
These octavo edition works are considered to be some of the finest wildlife and birding art ever produced in America and are eagerly sought after by collectors worldwide. Owning an original lithographic artwork by John James Audubon is like holding a piece of American history in your hands.
These rare octavo sets and individual prints are rapidly disappearing from the market. Many sets have been broken apart for their indididual images, which can run into the $2000+ range for the better images. We keep an ever changing inventory of both 1st and 2nd edition prints on hand. We have approximately 200 first edition images and about 250 second edition images available. Please contact us for a particular bird that you are interested in acquiring. If we do not have it in stock, we can very likely find one for you through our many contacts in the market.
Specialty Historical Prints
| (540) 365-3336 | ken@rareartprints.com |