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John James Audubon print collection

Call Number

PR 162

Date

[1820]-1860, 1985 (bulk 1832-1845), inclusive

Creator

Audubon, John James, 1785-1851

Extent

1.88 Linear feet
(2 boxes, 1 drawer)

Language of Materials

This collection is primarily visual. Any text is likely to be in Latin or in English.

Abstract

The Audubon print collection contains hand-colored aquatints, lithographs, chromolithographs, and items of ephemera of or pertaining to the work of John James Audubon, including both original prints from his famous color-plate books of natural history, and later, derivative prints of the same.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series.

Missing Title

  1. Series I. Birds of America
  2. Series II. Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America
  3. Series III. Miscellaneous

Scope and Contents

The John James Audubon Print Collection spans the period from ca. 1827-1860, and 1977 to 1986 and contains both original prints from Audubon's famous color-plate books of natural history, and later derivatives. The collection is divided into three series: Birds of America;Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America ; and Miscellaneous.

Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as John James Audubon Print Collection, PR 162, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection is mainly comprised of gifts from a variety of donors. The proof prints were purchased in 1947.

Related Materials

Portraits of John James Audubon and his family can be found in the Portrait File (PR 052). The Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections also holds a double Elephant folio set of Audubon's Birds of America, and the N-YHS Library has an Octavo set of the same. The Manuscripts Department holds some of Audubon's correspondence. The N-YHS Museum holds Audubon's original watercolors for Birds of America, as well as other work by Audubon, including an empty marbleized paper and leather portfolio, of double Elephant folio size, with "Birds of America" printed on the cover, which was used by Audubon himself to carry his watercolors or sample prints as samples to show to potential subscribers.

Collection processed by

Jenny Gotwals

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:50:35 -0400.
Language: Description is in English.

Edition of this Guide

This version was derived from audubon.xml

Repository

New-York Historical Society

Series I: Birds of America

Scope and Contents note

Series I. Birds of America contains material related to the original double Elephant folio publication of Birds of America, published in numbers from 1827 to 1838. Plates for this edition were aquatinted by Robert Havell, Jr., after drawings by Audubon, and were hand-colored both by Havell's studio staff and Audubon's wife and children. This series is arranged into three subseries: Pattern Proof Prints, Loose Plates, and Facsimiles and Reproductions.

The fifteen color proof prints were used as patterns for the colorists of the aquatints. These sheets give primary and detailed evidence about the coloring process; several have penciled color notations, and one has a notation for textual change. Eleven loose plates from the double Elephant Folio edition, all marked with Havell's name, are also included. One of these, the White-headed Eagle, appears in both uncolored and colored format. Several modern reprints of Audubon's birds can also be found in this series.

Prints are arranged by plate number, where known.

Pattern Proof Prints

Common Yellow Throat [Plate 24], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Kentucky Warbler [Plate 38], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Chestnut Sided Warbler [Plate 59], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Autumnal Warbler [Plate 88], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Carolina Titmouse [Plate 160], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Orange Crowned Warbler [Plate 178], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Tree Sparrow [Plate 188], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Manx Shearwater [Plate 295], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Yellow Breasted Rail [Plate 329], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

American Widgeon [Plate 345], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Rocky Mountain Plover [Plate 350], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Lapland Longspur [Plate 365], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Golden Winged Warbler [Plate 414], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Tawny Thrush/Townsend's Thrush & Canada Jay [Plate 419], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Western Duck [Plate 429], 1827-1838

Box: 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Loose Plates

Scope and Contents note

These prints are housed flat in a map case.

White-headed Eagle [Plate 31], 1828

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

House Wren [Plate 83], undated

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Connecticut Warbler [Plate 138], 1832

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Sooty Tern [Plate 235], 1834

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Great Marbled Godwit [Plate 238], 1835

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Red-necked Grebe [Plate 298], 1836, inclusive

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Tell-tale Godwit or Snipe [Plate 308], 1836

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Redheaded Duck [Plate 322], 1836

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Trumpeter Swan [Plate 376], 1837

Folder: FF 1 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Facsimiles and Reproductions

Scope and Contents note

These prints are housed flat in a map case.

Great Egret, 1977

Folder: FF 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

Printed by the National Audubon Society

Canvas Backed Duck, undated

Folder: FF 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

Printed by R. R. Donnelley & Sons, courtesy of the Field Museum of Natural History

American White Pelican, 1985

Folder: FF 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

No. 152 of 500, printed by Princeton Audubon, Ltd

Wild Turkey, 1985

Folder: FF 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

No. 135 of 500, printed by Princeton Audubon, Ltd

Purple Heron, 1985

Folder: FF 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Brown Pelican, 1985

Folder: FF 2 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

No. 1136 of 1500, printed by Princeton Audubon, Ltd

Series II: Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America

Scope and Contents note

Series II. Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America was issued from 1845 to 1848. Six loose plates of small animals from that book are held here. All are hand colored lithographs by J. T. Bowen after drawings by John James Audubon.

These prints are housed flat in a map case.

Common American Wildcat [Plate 1], 1842

Folder: FF 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Cat Squirrel [Plate 17], 1843

Folder: FF 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Red-tailed Squirrel [Plate 55], 1844

Folder: FF 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Brindled Weasel [Plate 60], 1845

Folder: FF 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Brewer's Shrew Mole [Plate 74], 1845

Folder: FF 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Carolina Shrew [Plate 75], 1845

Folder: FF 3 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Series III: Miscellaneous

Scope and Contents note

Series III contains nineteenth century material that does not readily fit into the above two series. A lithograph of a "Marsh Hen," by the firm Childs and Inman of Philadelphia and published in 1832, is one of a very few known copies of this print; the only one of Audubon's birds to be separately printed in this format. Little documentary evidence exists of Audubon's foray into lithography, but the print is thought to have been drawn on stone by Albert Newsam in the summer of 1832.

Included in this series are four of John James Audubon's calling cards; all but one note his distinction as a "Fellow of the Royal Linnean Societies of London." A prospectus dated June 1834 announces the forthcoming publication of the double Elephant folio of Birds of America, and seeks subscribers. The series also includes a title page from and another prospectus for the 1860 double Elephant size reissue of Birds of America, with chromolithography by J. Bien, which was published by Roe, Lockwood, and Son, of New York.

Marsh Hen [no plate marking], 1832

Folder: FF 4 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

General note

Lithograph, drawn and printed by Childs and Inman, Philadelphia

Title Page from Birds of America, edition of 1860, published in New York by Roe, Lockwood & Son, New York, chromolithography by J. Bien, 1860

Folder: FF 5 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

John James Audubon, four calling cards, three as "Fellow of the Royal Linnean Societies of London", [1820-1839]

Box: 2, Folder: 6 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Brochure advertising double Elephant Folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America, 1834

Box: 2, Folder: 7 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)

Brochure advertising double Elephant Folio and Octavo chromolithography editions of Audubon's Birds of America and Viviparous Quadrupeds, as well as a stand on which to display the book. Published by George Lockwood, 812 Broadway, New York., [1860]

Box: 2, Folder: 8 (Material Type: Mixed Materials)
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024