John James Audubon | The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York, 1985 - photo 1
John James Audubon | The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York, 1985 - photo 2
John James Audubon | The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York, 1985 - photo 3
John James Audubon | The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York, 1985 - photo 4

John James Audubon | The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York, 1985

Sold
£ 16 510
Auction dateClassic
28.11.2023 14:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
Sotheby´s
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1073282
Lot 4 | John James Audubon | The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York, 1985
John James Audubon

The birds of America. Facsimile of the 1827–1838 edition. New York: Abbeville Press, 1985

Facsimile edition, ONE OF 350 SETS, 4 volumes of plates, large folio (1000 x 672mm.), 8 volumes of text, 8vo (266 x 177mm.)

435 excellent coloured plates reproducing those in size and colour from the double-elephant folio first edition, the plate volumes IN SPECTACULAR RED MOROCCO, EXTRAVAGANTLY GILT, BY COURTLAND BENSON, covers with elaborate frame composed of multiple decorative rolls, one of these featuring cornucopia and birds in flight, raised bands, spine compartments with large central fleuron surrounded by small tools, floral sprays at corners, gilt lettering, text volumes in original emerald green leather with ornate gilt embellishment

A handsome facsimile of the National Audubon Society copy of Audubon’s masterpiece, produced in a collaboration between the Society and the Abbeville Press.

The plates here are printed in up to eighteen colours for each illustration on acid-free, dyed paper watermarked with the insignia and names of the Audubon Society and the Abbeville Press. The volumes are a compelling alternative to a work that now is staggeringly expensive.

The quality of workmanship on the bindings is unsurpassably fine, and the breath-taking scale of the immense set emphasizes the supreme talent of the gifted Canadian binder
Courtland Benson. Beginning in 1974, he has studied with such master binders as Barbara Hiller, Bernard Middleton, David Sellars, Donald Glaister, Michael Wilcox, and James Brockman. In 1993, he began to make his own tools based on research into decorative styles of bookbinding from 1450 to 1850.
Address of auction Sotheby´s
34-35 New Bond Street
W1A 2AA London
United Kingdom
Preview
28.11.2023
Phone +44 (0) 20 7293 5000
Phone +1 212 606 7000
Email
4FQ.AE2YUKFA@AYGLGHC3Y@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.