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

Lot 4
28.11.2023 14:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 16 510
AuctioneerSotheby´s
Event locationUnited 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
Estimate value
£ 12 000 – 18 000
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@
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