Audubon, John James | An original subscriber's copy of the first octavo edition of Audubon's The Birds of America

Audubon, John James 

The Birds of America, from Drawings Made in the United States and their Territories. New York: J. J. Audubon, Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844

7 vols., 8vo (260 x 162 mm). 500 handcolored lithographed plates after Audubon by W. E. Hitchcock, R. Trembly, and others, printed and colored by J. T. Bowen, with tissue guards, numerous wood-engraved text illustrations, half-titles and lists of subscribers in each volume; contents generally good, with scattered foxing and offsetting to tissue guards and text leaves, minorly affecting only a few plates, plates 187 and 188 reversed. Contemporary dark purple-brown morocco, tooled and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers; spines a trifle faded, final volume uniformly bound in a slightly lighter leather, lightly scuffed and rubbed. 

First octavo edition, an original subscriber's copy

After completing the double-elephant folio edition at great expense in England, Audubon returned to the United States and used the Philadelphia firm of Bowen to produce a more profitable octavo version under the supervision of his sons. It enjoyed a tremendous success and established his reputation. The octavo edition adds 65 new images to the original plate count of the double-elephant folio.

PROVENANCE

Mary Lenox Sheafe (original subscriber, listed on page 254 as Mrs. James Sheafe, her pencil signature in each volume) — Robert Lenox Belknap (Armorial Bookplates)

REFERENCE

Ayer/Zimmer 22; Nissen 51; Reese, American Color Plate Books 34; Sabin 2364; cf. Tyler, Audubon's Great National Work