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The Birds of America, from Drawings Made in the United States and their Territories

Illustrated by: John James Audubon (American, 1785–1851)
Illustrated by: Lucy Green Bakewell Audubon (American, 1788–1874)
Illustrated by: John Woodhouse Audubon (American, 1812–1862)
Lithographer: John T. Bowen (American, about 1801–1856)
Lithographer: George Endicott (American, 1802–1848)
Publisher: John James Audubon (American, 1785–1851)
Publisher: J. B. Chevalier (American, 19th century)
Printer: E. G. Dorsey (American, 19th century)
Binding by: James Hayday (English, 1796–1872)
1840–44
Place of Publication: New York, New York, USA; Place of Publication: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Medium/Technique Illustrated book with 500 hand-colored lithographs
Dimensions Overall (each vol., depth variable): 28 x 19 x 5.5 cm (11 x 7 1/2 x 2 3/16 in.)
Credit Line William A. Sargent Collection—Bequest of William A. Sargent
Accession Number37.2456.1
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsIllustrated books
New York: J. J. Audubon; Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-44

Description(New York: J. J. Audubon; Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-44) 27.9 cm, seven vols.; [v. 1] viii, [9]-256 pp., plus 70 plates; [v. 2] vii, [9]-205 pp., plus 70 pls.; [v. 3] viii, [9]-233 pp. [1 f.], plus 70 pls.; [v. 4] viii, [9]-321 pp. [1 f.], plus 70 pls.; [v. 5] viii, [9]-346 pp. [1 f.], plus 70 pls.; [v. 6] viii, [9]-457 pp. [1 f.], plus 70 pls.; [v. 7] ix, [9], [11]-371 pp. [1 f.], plus 70 pls.; contemporary gilt-stamped green morocco (Hayday).

A smaller-format edition of the noted "double elephant folio" edition of Audubon's birds. The reductions are said to have been made with the help of a camera obscura, and accomplished by John Woodhouse Audubon, the artist's son. One illustration is credited to Audubon's wife Lucy. This edition was published in 100 parts, with five lithographs each, and collected in seven volumes. The lithos were mostly drawn (and colored) by Bowen, with a few by Endicott. The edition was co-published by the artist and Chevalier, with Audubon taking over the later volumes. The edition size is estimated to be somewhat over 1,000 copies (there are 1199 subscribers' names listed in the various volumes).
ProvenanceAcquired in 1920 from Bartlett (Boston) by William A. Sargent, Boston (1858-1936), by whom bequeathed to MFA, November 17, 1937.