Audubon’s Birds Of America: An Essential Addition to Your Library

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If you love birds or beautiful artwork, you’ve probably heard of John James Audubon’s Birds of America. This amazing book is one of the most important and valuable wildlife books ever made. It’s full of life-size paintings of North American birds, and it changed how we look at and study nature. 

Who was John James Audubon?

John James Audubon’s life was as colorful as his paintings. Born in 1785 in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) to a French naval officer and a French chambermaid, Audubon was raised in France by his stepmother. His early years were marked by a deep fascination with nature, particularly birds. He would spend hours observing and sketching the local wildlife.

In 1803, at the age of 18, Audubon was sent to America to avoid conscription into Napoleon’s army. He settled on his father’s farm in Pennsylvania, where he continued to pursue his passion for birds. 

Despite attempts at various business ventures, including a general store in Kentucky, Audubon’s true calling was always ornithology and art. Audubon’s approach to studying birds was revolutionary for his time. 

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What is Birds of America?

The Birds of America Book is a famous book by John James Audubon from the early 19th century. Known for its large size, called “double elephant folio,” the book allowed Audubon to show even the biggest birds at life-size.

The book contains 435 hand-colored plates, showing 497 bird species. Each plate is a piece of art, often featuring the bird’s natural habitat and prey. For example, Audubon’s painting of the Osprey shows the bird holding a fish, highlighting its fishing skills.

To create this book, Audubon traveled all over North America. He journeyed by boat, on horseback, and foot through wild and often dangerous areas. His travels took him from the Florida Keys to Labrador and as far west as North Dakota, facing bad weather, disease, and hostile encounters along the way.

The Process of Birds of America that Makes You Get the One in Your Library

The creation of the masterpiece was a complex, multi-step process that combined artistry, craftsmanship, and emerging printing technologies:

1. Painting: 

Audubon typically started with pencil sketches made in the field. He would then create a watercolor painting, often using a combination of watercolor, pastel, gouache, and graphite. To achieve life-size depictions, he sometimes had to paint birds in unusual poses. 

For example, his famous painting of the American Flamingo shows the bird with its neck curved downward to fit on the page.

2. Engraving: 

The paintings were sent to London, where skilled engravers, led by Robert Havell Jr., transferred the images onto copper plates. This process was incredibly detailed as each feather, leaf, and tiny detail had to be etched into the copper. A single plate could take months to complete.

3. Printing: 

The copper plates were inked and run through a press to create black-and-white prints on large sheets of handmade paper. Audubon insisted on using the highest quality paper available, which came from the J Whatman Mill in England.

4. Hand-coloring: 

A team of colorists, working under Havell’s supervision, then hand-colored each print to match Audubon’s original paintings. This was done using watercolors and required great skill to achieve consistent results across multiple copies.

5. Assembly: 

As the sets of prints were completed, they were sent to subscribers in batches of five. Subscribers would then have the prints bound into books. The complete set consisted of 435 plates bound into four volumes.

The entire process of creating the book took over a decade and was incredibly expensive. Audubon sold the books by subscription, with subscribers paying a total of about $1,000 (equivalent to over $30,000 today) for the complete set.

What makes Audubon’s Birds of America to be Part of Your Book Shelf?

1. Life-size paintings: 

Audubon’s decision to paint birds at life-size was revolutionary. It allowed readers to appreciate the true scale of each species, from the tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird to the majestic Bald Eagle. This approach also presented unique challenges, such as, larger birds like the Wild Turkey had to be painted with their necks bent to fit on the page.

2. Natural poses: 

Unlike the stiff, profile views common in earlier bird illustrations, Audubon’s birds are full of life and motion. His Great Blue Heron is shown stabbing at a fish, while his painting of Carolina Parakeets (now extinct) depicts a group of colorful birds clustered on a branch, showcasing their social nature.

3. Attention to detail: 

Audubon’s paintings are remarkable for their accuracy and detail. He meticulously depicted different types of feathers, the subtle variations in coloration, and even the texture of birds’ feet and beaks. His painting of the Golden Eagle, for example, shows individual barbs on the bird’s feathers and the scaly texture of its powerful feet.

4. Scientific value: 

While Audubon was not a trained scientist, his careful observations contributed significantly to ornithology. He discovered 25 new species and 12 new subspecies of birds. His detailed notes on bird behavior, habitat preferences, and distribution patterns provided valuable data for future researchers.

5. Artistic beauty: 

Beyond their scientific accuracy, Audubon’s paintings are simply stunning as works of art. His use of color, his ability to capture the personality of each bird, and his artistic compositions make the book look beyond a mere scientific catalog.

Affordable Ways to Experience The Birds of America Book

Today, original copies are incredibly rare and valuable. Approximately 200 sets were originally produced, and only about 120 complete sets are known to exist today. These sets are scattered around the world in museums, libraries, and private collections.

The value of the book has skyrocketed over the years. In December 2010, a complete set sold at Sotheby’s auction house for £7,321,250 (approximately $11.5 million at the time), setting a record for the most expensive printed book sold at auction. In 2018, another copy sold for $9.65 million.

However, you don’t need millions of dollars to appreciate Audubon’s work:

1. Museum visits: 

Many major museums have Audubon prints in their collections. For example, the New York Historical Society has all 435 preparatory watercolors for Audubon’s masterpieces. They rotate their display, showing different paintings throughout the year.

2. Modern reprints: 

Publishers like Abbeville Press and Taschen have produced high-quality facsimile editions of Birds of America. While not as large as the original double elephant folio, these books still showcase the beauty of Audubon’s work.

3. Online resources: 

The National Audubon Society has digitized all 435 plates of Audubon’s collection in high resolution. You can zoom in to see incredible details that are hard to appreciate even in the original prints.

4. Audubon societies: 

Local Audubon societies often organize bird-watching trips and educational programs that reference Audubon’s work. These can be great ways to connect Audubon’s historical observations with modern bird watching.

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Adding Birds of America to Your Library

There are many ways to add Audubon’s work to your personal library:

1. Modern reprints: 

Publishers offer a range of options, from affordable paperbacks to lavish hardcover editions that attempt to recreate the scale and quality of the original.

2. Individual prints: 

Many companies offer high-quality reproductions of individual Audubon paintings. These can be beautiful additions to your home decor.

3. Digital versions: 

E-book versions of work allow you to carry Audubon’s entire work on your tablet or e-reader. Many of these allow you to zoom in on details you might miss in print versions.

Wrap Up

By adding some version of The Birds of America to your library, you’re not just acquiring a beautiful book. You’re connecting with an important piece of natural history, artistic achievement, and American cultural heritage. Arader Books, the rare book department of Arader, proudly offers a selection of rare and valuable books!