Amsterdam Audubon FOLIO Birds Of America Print: LEAST BITTERN 210

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C I R Q L A R Original antique prints, books, maps and atlases Image Name LEAST BITTERN. Plate # 210. Author/Artist John James Audubon : The Birds Of America . Date of Publication Published Amsterdam by the Johnson Reprint Corporation and Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1971- 1 972. Type of Print Original color printed lithograph printed on unbleached cotton rag paper. Each plate has the "G. Schut & Zonen" watermark. There were only 250 sets of this fine work published. Size of Image Double Elephant Folio (DEF): 26 7/8" x 39 1/2". Please note that while these are stock pictures, the actual image is very much as clean as what the images indicate. They have never been previously framed nor have they been enhanced, repaired or altered in any other way which might compromise their aesthetic or numerical value. Condition In pristine condition. We can say without any hyperbole that these lithographs have rarely, if ever, seen the light of day. They are in as close to mint condition as one would ever expect to find. These plates were never bound into a volume so the margins are the widest possible. Description We are pleased to offer this beautifully original color printed lithograph published by Johnson Reprint Corporation in 1971. This edition is referred to as the "Amsterdam Edition" and is considered to be the most authentic facsimile to the double elephant folio (DEF) The Birds Of America published by John James Audubon between 1826-38. The Curators of the Teyler's Museum in Haarlem, Holland made their copy of the original work available for use as a model. The Museum, founded in 1778, bought their copy through Audubon's son as part of the original subscription in 1839. After long deliberation, the extremely complex but highly accurate process of color photo-lithography was chosen as the appropriate printing method. The best exponents of this art were the renowned Dutch printing firm of NV Fotolitho Inrichting Drommel at Zandvoort who were willing to undertake the task of printing each plate in up to eight different colors. The original Havell edition was published on hand-made rag paper and the publishers were determined that the paper of their edition should match the original. Unhappy with the commercially available papers, they turned to the traditional paper manufacturers G. Schut & Zonen (founded in 1625), who, using 100% unbleached cotton rags, were able to produce a wove paper of the highest quality, with each sheet bearing a watermark unique to the edition: G. Schut & Zonen [JR monogram] Audubon [OT monogram]. In October 1971, employing the most faithful printing method available, the best materials and the ablest craftsmen of their age, the Amsterdam firm of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ltd., in conjunction with the Johnson Reprint Corporation of New York, set out to produce the finest possible limited edition facsimile of the greatest bird book ever printed: the Havell edition of John James Audubon's well-loved "Birds of America". The publishers and their dedicated team completed their task late in 1972. Only 250 copies were published and sold by subscription, with the plates available bound or unbound. Given all this careful preparation, it is not surprising that the prints have the look and feel of the original Havell edition. John James Audubon was born in Les Cayes, Haiti on 26 April 1785. From 1788 to 1803 he lived in France until he was sent to the United States to manage an estate that his father had bought in Pennsylvania. He returned to France in 1805, but his fascination with the United States had taken root and he returned again in May 1806. He married Lucy Bakewell in 1808 and together they embarked on a difficult period financially that was only to be resolved, through Audubon's unshakable and justified belief in his own abilities, with the publication of his masterpiece. "The Birds of America" is the single greatest ornithological work ever produced and is the realization of Audubon's dream of traveling throughout the United States r... read more

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